SPACEFLIGHT PARTICIPANT Meaning and
Definition
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A spaceflight participant refers to an individual who is not a professional astronaut or a member of any official space agency, but who has been selected or has volunteered to participate in a spaceflight mission. This term is often used to describe individuals who pay a significant amount of money to undergo training and ultimately experience space travel. These participants are also commonly known as "space tourists" or "citizen astronauts."
Spaceflight participants may be taken aboard crewed missions conducted by space agencies, private companies, or organizations in collaboration with space agencies. While they do not possess the same level of formal training as professional astronauts, they typically undergo an extensive pre-flight training process to familiarize themselves with the mission requirements, spacecraft operations, emergency procedures, and the effects of microgravity.
The concept of spaceflight participants emerged as a result of the commercialization of space, which opened up opportunities for private individuals to embark on space travel. Space agencies and private space companies now offer spaceflight opportunities to those who can afford the steep costs involved. By participating in space missions, these individuals gain firsthand experience of space travel, weightlessness, and views of the Earth from space.
The term "spaceflight participant" is often used in a legal or regulatory context to refer to non-professional astronauts. It helps define the legal responsibilities, rights, and obligations of these individuals during their time in space and their interactions with the space agency or private company conducting the mission.
Etymology of SPACEFLIGHT PARTICIPANT
The etymology of the word "spaceflight participant" can be broken down as follows:
1. Space: This word originates from the Latin term "spatium", which means "an interval, distance, or space". It later evolved through Old French and Middle English to become the word we recognize today. "Space" refers to the vast expanse that exists beyond Earth's atmosphere, where objects such as satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts travel.
2. Flight: The word "flight" has its roots in the Old English word "fliht", which means "flying or moving through the air". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*fliuhtiz" and shares a common ancestry with other Germanic languages. In the context of space travel, "flight" refers to the act of traveling through the atmosphere or beyond.
