Whether or not the typical particular person considers Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson to be explorers of the cosmos after their respective joyrides into the higher ambiance, they and their crew members have met the Federal Aviation Administration’s standards “astronauts.” They’re even giving them a little bit medals! And they will be the final of their type ever produced.

The administration announced an abrupt finish to its Commercial Space Astronaut Wings program right now. The 2021 recipients embrace Bezos and Branson, in addition to Star Trek actor William Shatner; because it was created in 2004, the consideration has been given to 24 individuals, 15 of whom acquired their wings this 12 months. Starting January 1, 2022, those that would usually qualify for wings will as a substitute solely be acknowledged on the FAA’s web site.

“The Wings program was created […] to recognize pilots and flight crew who furthered the FAA’s mission to promote the development of vehicles designed to carry humans into space,” the FAA wrote. “With three commercial space companies now licensed by the FAA to fly spaceflight participants, and companies conducting operations, [program creator Patti Grace Smith’s] vision is largely fulfilled.”

An ego journey 50 miles up is, arguably, substantively completely different from spending time on the ISS or touchdown on the Moon. So whereas it’d gall some to see two guys who have already got all the pieces claiming a soon-to-be-extinct little bit of area journey memorabilia, remember the fact that it is one in all many related baubles. Astronauts nonetheless will be awarded completely different, arguably nicer-looking wings from every department of the navy, in three completely different levels. NASA additionally produces non-military pins for astronauts, and a separate pins for civilians who participate in missions. If something, the refusal to present knickknacks for scientifically pointless workouts in polluting the setting suggests humankind’s esteem for actual area journey stays untarnished.