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Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, and the other crew members who flew to space on April 15 with Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket have been called astronauts by Jeff Bezos’ company. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that they do not officially qualify as astronauts.
While the group did travel beyond the Karman line, which is the boundary of space, the FAA’s definition of an astronaut includes not only reaching an altitude of 50 miles but also having a role in flight operations. Since Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft is fully autonomous and flown from the ground, none of the crew members operated the spacecraft or performed safety-related duties during the flight.
The FAA updated its criteria in 2021 to specify that an individual must contribute to public safety or human spaceflight safety during their flight to qualify as an astronaut. Simply enjoying the view from space doesn’t meet these requirements. As such, while Blue Origin considers them astronauts, the FAA classifies them as space travelers instead.
The FAA no longer awards astronaut wings and has instead created a Human Spaceflight Recognition list. This list includes both tourists and professional astronauts who have crossed the 50-mile mark in an FAA-licensed vehicle. Although Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, and the others may eventually be included on this list, it does not grant them official astronaut status.