As we usher in the commercial space tourism era, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to end its Commercial Space Astronaut Wings program. Not before giving out a final few gold pins to some high-profile new astronauts, though.
To date, 24 individuals have received FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings—including the recent additions of Richard Branson, Jeff and Mark Bezos, and William Shatner. And, as the commercial spaceflight industry evolves over the coming years, you can expect more big names signing up to launch into space.
Starting in 2022, the agency will recognize individuals who reach space with a mention on its website, instead of the traditional gold pin it’s been awarding for 17 years. Handing out wings to every one of them, is not sustainable in the long run. So, as of Jan. 1, professional, military, or commercial astronauts who travel on an FAA-licensed or permitted launch that reaches 50 statute miles above the surface of the Earth will simply have their name listed online instead.
“The US commercial human spaceflight industry has come a long way from conducting test flights to launching paying customers into space,” FAA Associate Administrator Wayne Monteith said in a statement. “The Astronaut Wings program, created in 2004, served its original purpose to bring additional attention to this exciting endeavor. Now it’s time to offer recognition to a larger group of adventurers daring to go to space.”
The Wings program was created by former FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation Associate Administrator Patti Grace Smith to recognize pilots and flight crew who “furthered the FAA’s mission to promote the development of vehicles designed to carry humans into space,” according to the agency.
Before the end of this year, the Federal Aviation Administration expects to present Commercial Space Astronaut Wings to at least 15 more individuals who traveled beyond 50 miles this year. A pair of honorary wings will also be awarded to two individuals whose space launch vehicle broke up during flight in 2014.
