Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, December 17, 2021

FAA ending commercial astronaut wings program
by Stuart Ibberson
editor
The FAA announced Dec. 10, 2021, that it is ending the Com- mercial Space Astronaut Wings program.
The move comes as the commer- cial space tourism expands.
Instead, the FAA will now recog- nize individuals who reach space on its website.
Any person who is on an FAA- licensed or permitted launch and reaches 50 statute miles above the surface of the Earth will be listed on the site.
“The U.S. commercial human spaceflight industry has come a long way from conducting test flights to launching paying customers into space,” FAA Associate Adminis- trator Wayne Monteith said. “The Astronaut Wings program, created in 2004, served its original purpose to bring additional attention to this exciting endeavor. Now it’s time to offer recognition to a larger group of
adventurers daring to go to space.” The FAA expects the commer- cial human spaceflight industry to continue to grow and the number of people launching to space to in- crease dramatically in the coming
years.
The Wings program was created
by the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation’s former As- sociate Administrator, the late Patti Grace Smith. Its purpose was to recognize pilots and flight crew who furthered the FAA’s mission to promote the development of ve- hicles designed to carry humans into space. With three commercial space companies now licensed by the FAA to fly spaceflight participants, and companies conducting operations, her vision is largely fulfilled.
Before the Wings program ends, the FAA will award Commercial Space Astronaut Wings to those who had qualifying space travel in 2021, including 15 individuals who have already travelled beyond 50 statute
miles above the surface of the Earth on an FAA-licensed launch. Individ- uals on qualifying flights occurring prior the end of the year are also eli- gible to receive Wings.
The FAA made the announcement one day ahead of the Blue Origin liftoff from West Texas. Because the FAA is ending the program on Jan. 1, 2022, the ‘astronauts,’ including Alan Shepard’s daughter, will re- ceive their wings.
Adding Blue Origin’s NS-19 crew of six will bring the list to 30. The FAA awarded the first commercial wings to a recipient in 2004.
Earlier this year, the FAA tight- ened up its qualifications, specifying that awardees must be trained crew members, versus paying custom- ers along for the ride. But with the program ending, the decision was made to be all-inclusive, a spokes- man said.
Blue Origin screenshot
Actor William Shatner receives astronaut wings following his Oct. 13, 2021, flight aboard the News Shepard rocket.
Blue Origin completes third successful human spaceflight
On Dec. 11, Blue Origin successfully completed its third human spaceflight. The flight was also the sixth flight of the year for the program.
Six astronauts were onboard, including Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of Alan Shepard, the first American in space.
Shepard made his historic flight on May 5, 1961, when he piloted the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission. The Dec. 11 flight took place in the New Shepard launch vehicle that is named for Alan Shepard.
Shepard Churchley took along a tiny piece of her father’s Freedom 7 capsule, as well as mementos from his Apollo 14 Moon mission.
“I thought about Daddy coming down and thought, gosh he didn’t even get to enjoy any of what I’m getting to enjoy,” Shepard Churchley said following touchdown. “He was working. He had to do it himself. I went up for the ride!”
Also onboard was NFL star and TV celebrity Michael Strahan. Following the flight, Strahan tweeted “TOUCHDOWN has a new meaning now.”
The other astronauts on the Blue Origin flight were: Evan Dick, Dylan Taylor, Lane Bess and his son, and Cameron Bess.
The New Shepard rocket took off from West Texas, sending the capsule on a 10-minute flight. They soared to an altitude of 66 miles, providing a few minutes of weightlessness, before coming back to Earth.
“We had a great flight today. This was our sixth flight in what has been a great year for the New Shepard program. We flew 14 astronauts to space, flew a NASA payload flight that tested lunar landing sensors and completed our certification test flights,” said Bob Smith, CEO Blue Origin. “I want to thank our payload customers, our astronauts and, of course, Team Blue for these many important accomplishments. I am so proud to be part of this dedicated and hard-working team that ensures that each and every flight of New Shepard is safe and reliable. And it’s fun to say that this is just the beginning.”
Blue Origin is planning several crewed and payload flights in 2022.
December 17, 2021
Blue Origin screenshots
Top: The New Shepard rocket lifts off from West Texas on Dec. 11, 2021. Left: Touchdown! The New Shepard capsule lands in the Texas desert. Above: Laura Shepard Churchley, daughter of Alan Shepard – the first American in space, receives her astronaut wings from Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos.
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