…Altitude aside, the agency says would-be astronauts must have also “demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety”.

What exactly counts as such is determined by FAA officials.

In a statement, the FAA said that these changes brought the wings scheme more in line with its role to protect public safety during commercial space flights.

So you might be wondering about the wings we did see on Bezos and Branson after their flights?

Turns out they were custom-made pins by their own companies. You know, to fit into the whole PR ruse.

Besides the new rules, wannabe astronauts can also get their astronaut wings via the military or NASA.

Or, there is another possibility for Branson, Bezos, and any other billionaire hoping to be recognised as an astronaut.

At the discretion of the FAA’s associate administrator, honorary awards can be given based on merit.

Wings were once awarded in this way to Alan Shepard Jr (who walked on the moon) and Virgil Grissom in the early 1960s for their participation in the Mercury Seven programme.

But are Bezos and Branson really in the same category of space travellers that deserve such an acknowledgement?

Perhaps not.

[source:bbc]