For your chance to win two seats on one of the FIRST commercial flights to space with Virgin Galactic and support a great cause, enter at omaze.com/PrimalSpace

I'd prefer 8 days on ISS for 20 mio$ instead of those lousy 20 minutes

Astronauts and Tourists are not the same. Astronauts spend their lives training, millionaire tourists go on joyrides. Great video!

My plan was to disguise myself as a wheel of cheese and hang around Boca Chica, but this might work too.

To me there'll always be a difference between 'someone who has spent years of their life training to fly into space and do work that will benefit humanity as a whole' and 'millionaire who can afford hundreds of thousands of dollars for a seat and is doing it purely for their own enjoyment'. Call them what they are: tourists, not astronauts.

I’d make the distinction between professional astronauts and commercial astronauts.

5:40 the launch of SN11 being delayed was due to SpaceX telling the FAA director that he could go home after him already being there a week. They then changed their minds on a weekend when the FAA guy was off work, so he didn’t see his email and couldn’t book a flight back to Boca.

"Astronaut" 😂🤣 By that logic then I'm a pilot, a sailor and a bus driver because I've been a passenger on an aeroplane, a cruise ship and a London bus.

A well known aviation joke: _"I am from the FAA,_ *AND* _I am here to help you."_ 😊😊😊

Not everyone who travels by car is a *_driver._* Not everyone who travels by boat is a *_sailor._* Not everyone who travels by plane is a *_pilot._* Not everyone who travels by rocket is an *_astronaut._* The rest are all *_passengers._*

8:05 incorrect. The "two additional test flights" MIGHT have been necessary, but it turned out only one was needed. And those were required to get the license. They have the license, and there were no additional required flights once that happened.

20 mil for 8 days is cheep compared to 250 for 5 minutes close to space. Today's money too.

I am reminded, not for the first time, of the whole FAA subplot in John Ross' novel _Unintended Consequences._

your transitions to sponsors are always SO smooth, i never see it coming

Even as a GA pilot most of us think the FAA is slow, outdated, and just overall a pain in the butt

If the FAA had existed in 1903 the Wright brothers would never have been able to make their first flight

If they're astronauts, then I'm a pilot!

TIL, the US’s FAA controls a trip to space from anywhere in the world?

Do you have any more information on the launch tower thing? I thought the FAA only has jurisdiction over then using the launch tower. Not building it.

Where is part 450? I'm not seeing it in the FAR AIM Also, I get that the FAA can be difficult to deal with, but you can't really blame them when SpaceX is actively going against their rulings. As a pilot myself, I know not to mess with the FAA because they can be horrible to deal with, SpaceX doesn't just get to bend the rules in the name of innovation.

4:34 Kerbal Space Program Music

Funfact: Virgin Galactic doesnt go above the Karman line (the official definition of space)

Good video. I didn't know the FAA condensed those four regulations. Cheers to the FAA for that.

I feel like the idea of commercial travel via a starship would face too many obstacles to be worth it. It also feels like a waste of Space X's time when they probably would rather focus mainly on the Moon and Mars. I know their main goals have generally changed and they are now building Starship to get humanity multi-planetary so it does seem like they have noticed amount of issues that would crop up if they used the largest and most powerful rocket ever for quick hops across the world. My idea of the best scenario would be that Virgin Galactic get focused on raising enough money to make their trips cheaper and more accessible for the public. This is because they literally have a space plane; it would be way better suited for normal people than a rocket would. Blue Origin obviously needs to pick up the pace and stop filing lawsuits like there's no tomorrow as their ideas are extremely promising and would be great for the environment on Earth. Just imagine three large scale space companies all doing different things that not only make them profit but progress and help humanity and Earth. Space X on colonising the Moon and Mars, Blue Origin putting factories on the Moon so they don't pollute Earth, and Virgin Galactic providing much faster flights than any aircraft.

*sits in passenger seat.* ima astronaut lawl xD

Very useful video, thanks 👍

I can't wait to see where private spaceflight is a decade from now!

A lifetime of commitment, and even then you might not get to be an astronaut. I welcome this entirely.

"regulation will always lag behind"

Nicely done. SpaceX and the FAA as well as Blue Origin and all the rest, will get along. They have too and to see this video, thanks for the input that the FAA is streamlining the process. Cheers.

faa: you can’t fly sn8 today spacex: ok cry me a river ima do it anyway 😒

"It needs to be as easy as booking a plane ticket" in 2021, booking a flight just keeps getting harder and harder... We want it easier than that, or it will never be something for the masses.

Imagine training your entire life to become an elite ISS astronaut, only to be joined by an annoying Tiktok millionaire...

I love KSP soundtrack in the background there

The FAA is the least of their problems with the 1,000 passenger ship. It is physically impossible to fit that many people in the said spaceship.

You didn't talk about public safety at all, which is the main objective behind the FAA's actions. They definitely should work more efficiently but you portray them like they're just in the way, which is very one sided.

Amazing

I hate how they call rich people who go to space “Astronauts”, at least real astronauts had a contribution to science and space exploration

Honestly, i wouldn't want to be on one of the FIRST flights. Flight 42? Maybe...

The perfect sponsorship offers doesn't exis..

@ 8:28 "Please Mr. Branson...I already told you can´t open the windows..."

What's the name of the movie in the middle of the video?

My man uploads once a year

I want you and all the other space nerds out there to win these two seats.

The background KSP music made this video perfect

The idea of earth to earth rocket travel is unbelievably stupid. Not only would it be far too expensive to be successful (RE: Concorde), but the environmental impacts would be exponentially larger than regular air travel.

0:41 actually, astronaut means something like "space sailor" or something like that

you're messing me up with that "RGV-music" :D.

The FAA should charge a fee for the spaceport, and make sure they have a Starbucks at the departure port.

Great choice KSP music!

If I'm not wrong, FAA only monitors American spaceflight and air travel. I don't think this applies internationally as other countries have their own spaceflight administrations

The FAA in US airspace. There are lots of places where the FAA has no jurisdiction.

Why does the FAA have a say in the launch tower?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines astronaut as "a person who travels beyond the earth's atmosphere". It makes no mention at all to being "trained". There is a difference between fighter pilots, commercial pilots, and private pilots. They all require different trainings and qualifications, but they are ALL pilots. The same must be applied to astronauts. There is a difference between government astronauts (NASA/Military), commercial astronauts (like the crew operating SpaceShipTwo), and private astronauts. They all require different trainings and qualifications, but they are ALL astronauts.

Me who gets spacex notifications of starlink launches constantly: how

Virginia galactic and blue origin customers aren't astronauts, they're space travellers. SpaceX customers are trained to pilot and override the autonomous dragon, so despite not being the same level of astronaut as Armstrong, I still consider them astronauts

Elon: "Hello, Mexico, I'm shutting down SpaceX and starting a new rocket company called SpaceX2, outside the U.S. Would you be interested in hosting my new company? Mexico: "YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!

FAA inspector couldn't make it down in time?? I'd be there 3 days early.

My problem with Space x's plan right now is there is absolutely nothing to do in space. They need to build a moon carnival or something that's worth my money.

This sounds more like a SpaceX not listening to the regulator problem!

That KSP space thme in the background...

INCRÍVEL..ESPETACULAR...

Just because you were a passenger doesn't make you an astronaut for the same reason riding in 1st class doesn't make you a pilot.

Most astronauts are not pilot/fly rocket to space anymore. It's all automate and they're just rider. However, they are still Astronauts because after they arrives at ISS...you know. They're still in space and they are continuing to live and work in space. Tourist on the other hand, just riding to space and come back without do any job during the time they are spent in Space.

Government: "You need our permission." Elon: 🖕🏻

Just rich people doing whatever they want whenever the rules don't make sense to them. I can't even build a shed on my own property without the local government shitting a brick.

astronaut/cosmonaut is a title given to folks that did at least one orbit around earth. also hundreds of rockets: it takews hours to fule a rocket and that time the thing is on the ramp. only esa fuels its rockets before launch.

I will die with my two feet firm on planet earth and I am perfectly fine with that

Going up high is not really going into space. When we can orbit the planet for a day & then return, that is really going into space.

Musk needs to follow the rules. Boca Chica needs a full NEPA EIS for Starship. When that is completed, the FAA can start to approve the needed licenses. The EIS from 2014 is insufficient for Starship. Regulatory requirements need to be followed, or changed by lawmakers and agencies. Situations like Musk's continuation of building the tower without permission and the launch of SN8 after the FAA pulled the plug only point out the need for close oversight and additional analysis.

Astronauts - a train person riding a spacecraft Space Tourist - a person touring in space. I don't know why this is so hard to grasp. You don't get to call yourself an airplane pilot just because you rode an airplane. Also the term "space" is rather loose. Do you mean passing the Karman Line? Being in or outside Earth's orbit? Or falling down from a high place? Then by the same token, if you jumped then "technically" you've been in "space" for a few milliseconds.

I hear that KSP music in the background lmao

Fromcnow on, I'll call former "astronauts" "professional astronauts" and keep the old name for tourists

Can someone send Mark Zuckerberg into space on a craft with no heat shield.

How about launching rockets in Australia instead?

The FAA also only have jurisdiction over US airspace and vehicles flying there.

FAA isnt great for airplanes either considering they messed up the boeing 737 max situation pretty bad

I think it's disingenuous to call people travelling into space astronauts/cosmonauts. Historically, those people were professionals who'd spent years training in a lot of areas to finally get into space and do missions, even if in the early days it was to observe a lot of things and their craft were an autonomous paths. The others, the tax dodgers, who've accumulated millions by not paying their full taxes, are little more than travellers hence the reason the terminology 'space traveller' exists. Technically, we've paid for them to have a jolly out there in space when they pay less than 1% in taxes in some nations they make profits it. #SpaceTravellers

anyone else hear the KSP music at 5:26?

Was it just me or was that window open in the beginning

yes but have you been an astronaut in the ocean?

Seeing galactic wars happening from a very very very very very far distance would be nice to watch but this is 2021 not the far far far future

> "Just like traditional aircraft, each vehicle needs to be approved by the FAA in order for it to start flying regular passengers. The FAA is in charge of regulating all aspects of aviation..." Not true. The FAA only has jurisdiction in the United States and over international waters where it has been delegated such authority by ICAO. Russia, China and other countries don't need permission from the U.S.

I kinda hope there isn’t 100s of space launches per day.

1) I fully support space tourism. 2) Space tourists are not astronauts. They are... tourists. 3) Language is imperfect and all categories have fuzzy boundaries, so in the absence of a better solution I’m ok with people like Dennis Tito and Anousheh Ansari being grandfathered in to astronaut status, but we shouldn’t allow these few exceptions to define the rule going forward. Astronaut is a profession, not an altitude or a travel destination. It involves training, discipline, dedication, mission duties, acceptance of risk and responsibility for others. Astronauts enjoy a unique status in society. They carry with them 6 decades of goodwill, admiration, and respect that have been EARNED, not purchased. Handing out astronaut status to paying customers on 10 minutes joyrides would massively dilute and cheapen the meaning of that word. Astronauts are still astronauts even if they’ve never been to space. Tourists are not astronauts even if they have.

Looks like someone didn't get the *FAA's* recent memo about who can call him/herself an *Astronaut,* eh? 🤔

1:09 $500.000? I thought BO's price is supposted to be $200k?

The real problems with space tourism as presented by Blue Virgin / Galactic Origin: 1) While their service is ostensibly a flight into space, what they’re actually selling is the promise of a near-religious “Overview Effect (tm)” in space, and the aura of “ASTRONAUT” status back on earth. a) they can’t guarantee or have any control whatsoever over the emotional/metaphysical response of passengers, and b) the handing out of “astronaut” status willy nilly to all customers cheapens their very product and gradually makes it less special, less appealing. 2) The second major problem is they missed their window. The ideal time for suborbital space tourism was 10 years ago. As we speak, SpaceX is preparing Inspiration4, their first all-civilian ORBITAL spaceflight of several DAYS, not several minutes. SpaceX also has multiple civilian missions slated to visit the International Space Station (organized by Axiom and with NASA’s blessing) starting early 2022. And finally, SpaceX’s game-changing, history-making civilian trip around the moon, Apollo 8 style. The brainchild of Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, the “Dear Moon” project will be all kinds of amazing and garner worldwide attention. All of these much longer duration orbital trips will make Blue/Virgin’s 3 minutes of weightlessness feel underwhelming and unsatisfying in the extreme, and quite frankly not good value for money. The wealthiest people on Blue Virgin’s waiting lists will jump ship to real (orbital) spaceflight trips, leaving the Sub-Orbs with the less profitable dregs.

Lol nice airplane reference

Astronaut is a profession, not an Xbox Achievement...

We're not first, We're not last, When we see primal space, We click as fast as light boi

Would the FAA be a pain the in neck if there was different administration?

The people in space suits you ask to take a picture of your family keep floating off never to be seen again? One hand for the ship and one hand for the camera people....

Interplanetary citizens may ignore Earthbound regulators who are pulled down by gravity.

These same ppl that complain about clinate change and blame it on human activity are the same ppl that will pay millions and expend an exorbitant amount of energy to "tour" space .... Also the same ppl that go against the rules without punishment

“Huge advancements” Shows new Shepard

Worth noting that the FAA has jurisdiction in the USA, so a there’s still opportunity non American company launching outside the USA to make things easier. Personally, I’m crossing my fingers for a strong space travel startup scene somewhere with the scientific ability to make big gains, but lower safety barriers. Romania, Australia…maybe Wales?

If tickets are that expensive, I’d imagine there won’t be much supply after 5 years. Even if the tickets get cut in half, most people probably don’t have 250,000 dollars to spend on a 1 day vacation. Ha. It’s a very cool moment to be alive nonetheless

2:12 meanwhile in the other 99% of the world:

"Oh and look at omaze" 3 minutes earlier "Omaze ad"