Now Earning Wings, a New Kind of Astronaut. SpaceShipOne's pilot received a new honor: commercial astronaut wings awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration for those who fly more than 50 miles above Earth. By By JOHN SCHWARTZ. [The New York Times > Technology]

Sadly, these nifty wings won't go to passengers.

Which raises the question: Will the passengers also qualify for astronaut wings?

Afraid not, said Hank Price, a spokesman for the F.A.A. The wings were only for the pilot and crew. But how about if the pilot hands off the controls to the passenger for a few seconds during the flight? Nice try, he said. "They'd violate their license."

Why, then, does everyone who flies on the space shuttle receive astronaut wings, even though only two people pilot each mission?

For that one, the F.A.A. suggested calling NASA.

Robert Mirelson, a NASA spokesman, said that under that agency's rules, "the criteria are more for participation than sitting in the right seat."

Whatta rip!!!

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Moment of Autoasphyxiation Space Couture Zen. Xeni Jardin: Out of the fetish websites and into the streets. Spring 2005 Ready-to-Wear collection from fashion designers Viktor & Rolf. Link, and don't miss the detail shots. (Thanks, Susannah "Invisible Cowgirl" Breslin!)

[Boing Boing]

4:25:43 PM