Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy clarified the definition of an "astronaut" after a recent Blue Origin suborbital mission.
Duffy stated that the all-female crew of the Blue Origin flight, despite reaching the Kármán line, does not meet the FAA's criteria for astronauts.
He emphasized that FAA guidelines require commercial space crewmembers to have "demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety or contributed to human space flight safety."
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy took to X on Thursday evening to clarify the definition of an “astronaut.” His comments follow this week’s Blue Origin mission.
Ryan is Sr. Director of Digital for Firecrown's Aviation Group. In 2013, he founded AirlineGeeks.com, a leading trade publication covering the airline industry. Since then, his work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the airline industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Previously, he worked for a Part 135 operator and later a major airline. Ryan is also an Adjunct Instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
