Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy clarified the definition of an "astronaut" following Blue Origin's recent suborbital flight.
Duffy asserted that the six-member Blue Origin crew, who reached the Kármán line, does not meet the FAA's criteria for "astronauts."
According to Duffy, FAA guidelines for astronaut wings require crewmembers to have performed activities essential to public or human space flight safety, which he implies the Blue Origin passengers did not.
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 Group President 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.
