Blue Origin's all-female spaceflight, including Katy Perry and Gayle King, sparked debate over astronaut qualifications. While reaching space, the crew didn't meet former FAA criteria for astronaut designation, which required essential contributions to flight safety. The FAA's Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program, ended in 2021, had specific requirements not met by the automated flight's passengers. Different organizations, like NASA and Merriam-Webster, offer varying definitions of 'astronaut,' leading to ongoing discussion.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.