Astronaut is a job, and it’s one of the jobs that’s the most difficult to do, and has the lowest acceptance rate in the world. People who are actual astronauts dedicate a career to it. The pay they receive is relatively low for their talent. And, they typically have to do a lot of PR events. It’s a grind, but it’s rewarding to have one of the most unique jobs in the world.
Putting on a bandage doesn’t make you a doctor. Unclogging a toilet doesn’t make you a plumber. And going into space, even into orbit, doesn’t make you an astronaut. If you actually get to orbit, I’ll give you “space tourist”. But, if you’re just barely getting above 100 km, you’re a “high altitude tourist”, nothing more.
And, as for “mission”, a mission has a purpose, and just having fun for a few minutes while you’re in the upper atmosphere isn’t an actual mission.
Astronaut is a job, and it’s one of the jobs that’s the most difficult to do, and has the lowest acceptance rate in the world. People who are actual astronauts dedicate a career to it. The pay they receive is relatively low for their talent. And, they typically have to do a lot of PR events. It’s a grind, but it’s rewarding to have one of the most unique jobs in the world.
Putting on a bandage doesn’t make you a doctor. Unclogging a toilet doesn’t make you a plumber. And going into space, even into orbit, doesn’t make you an astronaut. If you actually get to orbit, I’ll give you “space tourist”. But, if you’re just barely getting above 100 km, you’re a “high altitude tourist”, nothing more.
And, as for “mission”, a mission has a purpose, and just having fun for a few minutes while you’re in the upper atmosphere isn’t an actual mission.