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Without Shuttles, Astronauts' Careers May Stall, NPR
"NASA administrator and former astronaut Charlie Bolden talked about that prospect when he visited Kennedy Space Center in Florida earlier this year, saying it would be a different approach for NASA to rent not just the space vehicle, but also a private crew of astronauts to go with it. "We need to have the discussion of how important is it to have a career astronaut contingent, as opposed to none," Bolden said. He said that NASA's international partners like the idea of an elite corps, and that he doubted some random person could quickly be trained to perform at the same level as NASA astronauts, who have devoted their lives to preparing for work in space. "We need to have the discussion of what the future -- the next generation of astronauts -- will be like," Bolden said."
I’m not quite clear why it reads this way, however everyone acting as pilot in command (POC) in US airspace must have a FAA Medical Certificate, FAA Pilot License, FCC radio license and the necessary training to fly.
Taking a trip into outerspace was started in 1960s as unique. It is now 50 years later and we still only have military pilots flying spacecraft.
The FAA was given the authority to start its effort in commercial spaceflight after sts-107. The FAA with the DOD and NASA are working on this effort starting with Suborbital flights with spaceport license being granted like airports.
Back when, not so long ago, when NASA was conducting Spacelab missions and the final Spacehab mission was destroyed as Columbia made its entry NASA flew payload specialists that were not NASA astronauts in the sense of being elite.
The notion of being elite is fading fast as people(the public) move toward spaceflight and the FAA requirement to do so becomes known and Congress give the authority to proceed.
Does the government have pilots and commanders outside the military, yes it does in many forms such as the CIA and NOAA and NASA. The Astronaut office will still exist however it will not have the same look and feel as it has in the past.
The whole idea of how this will happen and exploration can begin is something that was ignored by ESMD is a large way until now. It is largely unknown and the spaceflight Centers just do not know what to think? Why are the budgets Zeroed??? How does it feel after every year having this done by Mike G without explanation except to fund CxP.
Hey the funding you had last year on the effort you started is zeroed. We do not need you because this is not helping to build the rocket. This is now over thank goodness! ESMD is moving on with the task of exploring the solar system with humans. The rocket is not the center piece of going to the moon.
The Apollo redux was not going to happen from the start. It was a pipe dream started and supported by the few you got funded as part of CxP. I remember Mike G telling us during a visit. Leave NASA your work is not needed anymore. I have the same to say to Mike G now however he is not a NASA employee at this point in time.