FAA Denies Astronaut Status to Blue Origin’s Celebrity Crew Over Ground-Controlled Flight

Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez Denied Astronaut Status Despite Blue Origin Space Flight

[Image: Blue Origin’s NS-31 crew, including Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez, celebrating post-landing]
Caption: Blue Origin declared its NS-31 crew "astronauts" after their spaceflight, but FAA rules dispute the title.

Pop star Katy Perry, Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez, and four others soared to space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket on a brief suborbital flight. The mission reached 66.5 miles (107 km), crossing the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space. Blue Origin celebrated the crew as astronauts, but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disagrees, citing strict criteria for the title.

FAA Rules vs. Blue Origin’s Claim
The FAA’s Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program initially awarded “astronaut” status to those flying above 50 miles. However, in 2021, the agency tightened rules, requiring crew members to contribute to “public safety” or “human spaceflight safety” during the mission. Since New Shepard flights are fully autonomous, passengers like Perry and Sanchez didn’t control the spacecraft, disqualifying them from FAA astronaut status. Instead, they’re classified as “space travelers.”

[Image: New Shepard capsule in flight]
Caption: The autonomous New Shepard capsule requires no pilot input, a key factor in the FAA’s decision.

Exceptions and Comparisons
In 2021, Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson received FAA wings because his flight was deemed a “test mission,” contributing to safety data. Blue Origin’s NS-31, however, was a routine tourism flight—its 31st launch—making similar recognition unlikely. The FAA has since phased out its astronaut wings program, shifting to a “Human Spaceflight Recognition” list for commercial passengers. Perry and crew may join this list but won’t hold official astronaut titles.

Who Qualifies as an Astronaut?
NASA and the U.S. military reserve “astronaut” for personnel completing rigorous training and active mission roles. For example, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who returned to Earth on a SpaceX capsule, are on the FAA’s recognition list but earned their titles through NASA missions.

[Image: FAA’s recognition list includes NASA astronauts and space tourists]
Caption: The FAA’s list honors space travelers but distinguishes between tourists and trained astronauts.

Public Reaction and Future Flights
The debate highlights growing pains in commercial space tourism. While Blue Origin’s passengers experience weightlessness and Earth’s curvature, the FAA’s stance underscores that “astronaut” remains a professional designation. As space travel becomes more accessible, the line between tourist and astronaut may blur, but for now, titles require more than a joyride.

Blue Origin’s NS-31 Mission Snapshot

• Crew: Lauren Sánchez (Bezos’ fiancée), Katy Perry, Gayle King (CBS host), Amanda Nguyen (activist), Aisha Bowe (ex-NASA engineer), Kerianne Flynn (producer).
• Flight Duration: 11 minutes.
• Max Altitude: 66.5 miles.
• Key Moments:
  • 00:00: Launch from Texas, accelerating to Mach 2.
  • 02:40: Booster separation; weightlessness begins.
  • 03:30: Crosses Kármán line.
  • 11:00: Capsule lands via parachutes.

[Image: New Shepard booster landing post-launch]
Caption: Reusable boosters like New Shepard’s enable frequent, cost-effective space tourism.

While Blue Origin’s passengers join a select group of space travelers, the FAA’s criteria ensure “astronaut” remains a title earned through active mission roles—not just a ticket to ride.