PPS#87 | Is Jeff Bezos an astronaut now?

Based on the same article title published by The New York Times, and written by Kenneth Chang - Is Jeff Bezos an astronaut now? “The answer appears to be no, at least in the eyes of the Federal Aviation Administration, which revised its definitions [and criteria] on whom it considers to be an astronaut [in July of this year].”

In a space race of the billionaires, to reach the thin blue line that separates life on Earth from space, Richard Branson of the Virgin Group came first, Jeff Bezos of Amazon came second, and we’re waiting for Elon Musk of Tesla to come third. While we wait for Musk to reach space in his fashion, this post answers a few “What is…?” questions, and mentions the likely possibilities of the existence of inhabiting Mars and forming floating space colonies.

Bezos shows the aviation glasses that once belonged to Amelia Earhart, which he took with him during the flight, at the post-flight press conference. | (Joe Raedle via Getty Images)

Dear Patient Reader,

On July 20th, 2021, Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, along with 18 year old student Oliver Daemen, and 82 year old aviation pioneer, Mary Wallace Funk, boarded the New Shephard launch vehicle and skyrocketed into space. Built by Blue Origin’s rocket and spaceflight system “the spacecraft lifted off at 14:12 BST (09:12 EDT) from a private launch site near Van Horn, Texas.” “In the 1960s, Ms. Funk was one [of the] members of a group of women called the Mercury 13. They underwent the same [physiological] screening tests as male astronauts, [however] never got to fly under the U.S. national space programme. Having crossed the Kármán line, Funk finally did at the age of 82. With the presence of Funk and Daemen, it made them the oldest, and the youngest persons to have been in space, respectively.

A week earlier, English business magnate synonymous with the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson, reached space “on a rocket plane operated by Virgin Galactic, a company [Branson, himself] founded [in 2004].” Similarly, Bezos, the now former CEO of Amazon, had founded Blue Origin on the 8th of September, 2000.

With Elon Musk in suit of fabulously reaching space in style - What’s the hype of two American magnates and one English magnate reaching space?

Spaceflight companies are “developing commercial spacecraft to provide suborbital space flights to space tourists.”[1] Sounds exciting? In an “advent of the age of space tourism” people are wondering whether the “word ‘astronaut’, describes where someone has been; outer space. Or is it a job description like pilot or sailor?”[2] According to the FAA, Bezos isn’t an astronaut, but a “spaceflight participant.” The New Shephard spacecraft is designed and built by Blue Origin and is entirely automated. Due to the efficacy and totality of such automation, Bezos and the rest of New Shephard’s space travelers do not qualify as flight crew. Nonetheless, they still pinned their customised astronaut wings. Actually, it’s much more than legalised regulations. With Branson and Bezos having successfully entered space, and with Musk well on his way; it symbolises the fast closing gap between the normalisation of space tourism and obsolete viewpoints. Plus, in the not so distant future, the increasing probability of inhabiting Mars and/or building space colonies. Such companies and the individuals behind them, not only Bezos and Musk but people around the world, are technologically turning science-fiction into reality.

By designing, building, and testing reusable space crafts which people can board to travel to space; travelling to space over the weekend may become a very normal getaway. Want a quiet break? You would have literally travelled 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth’s mean sea level, and crossed the five levels of the atmosphere. If that isn’t getting far away enough from e-mails, then even Jeff Bezos can't help you. Commercial space operations will cater to those who pay for suborbital or orbital space rides. The “commercial human spaceflight industry”[3] will be having everyone feel like they’re space explorers. Space programmes for human spaceflight that would launch space goers into space aboard rocket ships. ‘Up, up, up and away!” they say. Are these joy rides for the super-wealthy? Yes, and it doesn’t make a difference since the world works because of money, and being ethical falls short of making sense in all books.

8 Questions Answered

1. What is the FAA?

The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is the largest transportation agency of the United States government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters.

2. What is Blue Origin?

An aerospace company, Blue Origin “LLC is an American privately funded aerospace manufacturer and suborbital spaceflight services company headquartered in Kent, Washington, [the United States].”[4] Blue Origin is developing a variety of technologies, with a focus on rocket-powered vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) vehicles for access to suborbital and orbital space (BlueOrigin.com).

3. What is the Kármán line?

“The Kármán line (or von Karman line) is an attempt to define a boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. It was defined to be 100 kilometres (54 nautical miles; 62 miles; 330,000 feet) above Earth’s mean sea level.”[5] “The Kármán line represents both the attempt to define a boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, and offers a specific definition set by the Fédération aéronautique internationale, an international record-keeping body for aeronautics.”[6]

4. What is space tourism?

“Space tourism is human space travel for recreational purposes. There are several different types of space tourism, including orbital, suborbital and lunar space tourism. Work also continues towards developing suborbital space tourism vehicles.”[7] Like that of the work of Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceX.

5. Who is a commercial astronaut?

“A commercial astronaut is a person who has commanded, piloted, or served as an active crew member of a privately funded spacecraft.”[8]

6. What are astronaut wings?

“In the United States, the FAA and the U.S. military awards astronaut wings to those who fly above 50 miles (80 km).”[9] “The United States Astronaut Badge is a badge of the United States, awarded to military and civilian personnel who have completed training and performed a successful spaceflight.”[10] Companies like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic made their own badges, as their respective crew do not qualify as astronauts.

7. What is microgravity?

“Microgravity is the condition in which people or objects appear to be weightless. The effects of microgravity can be seen when astronauts and objects float in space.”[11]

8. What was the Space Race?

“The Space Race was a 20th century competition between two Cold War adversaries, the Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States, to achieve superior spaceflight capability. It had its origins in the ballistic missile-based nuclear arms race between the two nations following World War II.”[12] On October 4,1957, the USSR successfully launched the Earth’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1 (Sputnik meaning ‘satellite’ in Russian), into space orbit. Followed by Russia’s Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957. The US launched their artificial satellite, Explorer 1, on January 31, 1958.

Since then, space and computer technology have developed a reciprocal relationship. NASA’s need for technology, that led to the computing industry, that gave rise to Silicon Valley, and to entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.

Basically,

Space exploration requires technology → Technological change=computing industry → Computing industry=Silicon Valley → Silicon Valley=Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.

And let’s not forget Texas.

Fun Facts

“[Bezos’ brother,] Mark revealed that iconic items from aviation history were brought along on the [New Shephard space] flight. These included a piece of canvas used on the Wright brothers’ first plane, a medallion made from the vehicle that performed the first hot air balloon flight in 1783, and a pair of goggles used by pilot, Amelia Earhart.”[13]

The 5 Layers of Earth’s Atmosphere. | (Čirjak 2020)

**To the edge of space/*glory?**

The idea of forming space colonies and cities isn’t a far-fetched, crazy idea anymore. The race to space has followed its trajectory into the 21st century, and who knows may still be spurred by capitalism, communism, patriotism, nationalism, and ideological superiority - if not technological superiority. To the edge of space you say? Why yes, that and glory.

Also, a space enterprise of tycoons who are solving the problem of single-use rockets; that is, reusable rocket boosters. To live both on-planet, and off-planet. Large space colonies that are rotated to create artificial gravity with centrifugal force. Or, to terraform Mars, making the red, hostile planet, more Earth-like. Which is then, not so trivial bickering between visionaries. Instead, people who aren’t looking backwards to history, but looking forwards to a future that includes space as home. Serving a collective, multi-generational dream to inhabit space.

Like this post?

References

[1] “Space tourism.” 2021. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tourism.

[2] Chang, Kenneth. 2021. “Is Jeff Bezos an astronaut now?” The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/is-jeff-bezos-an-astronaut-now/articleshow/84782526.cms.

[3] "Ibid." [2]

[4] Wikipedia. 8. “Blue Origin.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Origin.

[5] India.com News Desk. 2021. “Explained: What is Karman Line?” India.com. https://www.india.com/technology/science-explained-what-is-karman-line-amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-new-shepard-space-flight-launch-4826975/#:~:text=The%20K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n%20line%20(or%20von,above%20Earth's%20mean%20sea%20level.

[6] Wikipedia. 2021. “Kármán line.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n_line.

[7] “Space tourism.” 2021. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tourism.

[8] Wikipedia. 2021. “Commercial astronaut.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_astronaut.

[9] Gohd, Chelsea. 2021. “New FAA rules change who qualifies for commercial astronaut wings.” Space.com. https://www.space.com/faa-commercial-astronaut-wings-rule-change.

[10] Wikipedia. 2021. “United States Astronaut Badge.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Astronaut_Badge.

[11] May, Sandra. 2017. “What Is Microgravity?” NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-microgravity-58.html.

[12] Wikipedia. 2021. “Space Race.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race.

[13] Rincon, Paul. 2021. “Jeff Bezos launches to space aboard New Shepard rocket ship.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57849364.

Image

Čirjak, Antonia. 2020. “What Are The 5 Layers Of The Earth's Atmosphere?” WorldAtlas. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-5-layers-of-the-earth-s-atmosphere.html.