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Author
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Topic: Qualifications needed to wear astronaut wings
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garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 08-28-2015 06:56 PM
   
I was on LinkedIn going through the people you may know connections list and came across an individual with the first name Jamie (I'll leave the last name out). This individual is or was participating in the Mars Desert Research Station project. In addition this person has listed in their profile "Astronaut Candidate" and "Astronaut 4 Hire". My question revolves more around the legality of the individual's profile photo displayed on their LinkedIn profile. What caught my eye was what appears to be "Astronaut Wings" on their name tag portion of the flight suit. As a military member it is not legal for me to wear badges I have not earned and my question is, is this legal for this individual to be wearing "Astronaut Wings" on there flight suit if there are not an official NASA astronaut? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-28-2015 07:29 PM
To clarify, the wings (embroidered name tag) you saw were issued with the flight suit as part of Project PoSSUM, a program operated by Astronauts4Hire. The PoSSUM Scientist-Astronaut program is a four-day training program designed in part by former NASA astronaut instructors to prepare scientists for potential missions through Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere). This project uses commercial suborbital spacecraft and high-altitude manned balloons to study rare noctilucent clouds that can help scientists address critical questions about the Earth's climate. It evolved from the "Noctilucent Cloud Imagery and Tomography Experiment," selected by NASA's Flight Opportunities Program in March 2012 as experiment 46-S.Students in the program learn about upper-atmospheric science while participating in realistic mission simulations developed in partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The simulations train the candidates to effectively use PoSSUM imager systems to study noctilucent clouds during suborbital flight. In addition, candidates receive comprehensive training in spacesuit operation, high-altitude and hypoxia awareness, and aerospace physiology. That aside, unless you are using the wings to impersonate a NASA (federal) employee, it is legal for you to wear them. (And, outside of the military's own rules for its active service members, it is legal in the U.S. for you to wear military-issued medals you did not earn and/or lie about receiving them, so long as you aren't doing so with the intention of obtaining money, property or some other tangible benefit.) |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 08-31-2015 08:30 AM
I looked at the photo, and they seem to be more generic 'pilot wings' than specific NASA civilian astronaut wings, or even military gold (Navy/Marine/Coast Guard) or silver (Air Force/Army) astronaut wings. Then of course there are the 'civilian commercial astronauts' like Mike Melvill, the first to earn their own FAA-sanctioned wings; more are sure to follow once Virgin Galactic and others ramp up their suborbital operations. I suppose the passengers on those flights will get some type of certificate or even a set of wings. |
p51
Member Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 08-31-2015 11:06 AM
It's also really common for adults going through the Academy programs at Space Camp to see be seen wearing generic NASA wings and astronauts wings custom made for some folks going through there.Doesn't mean anyone is trying to pass themselves off as a 'real' astronaut. Heck, I've worn Army astronaut wings on a flightsuit nameplate while talking with 'Hoot' Gibson (right after hopping out of an orbiter simulation) and he didn't have any problem with it, given the context. | |
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