What altitude benchmark did the FAA historically set for awarding its commercial astronaut wings program?
Answer
50 miles (about 80 kilometers)
The Federal Aviation Administration's previous criteria for conferring its commercial astronaut wings program were explicitly tied to a lower threshold than the international standard. This domestic benchmark was established at 50 miles, which is approximately 80 kilometers above sea level. This definition is often associated with the standards historically used by organizations like the U.S. Air Force and NASA for defining spaceflight within a domestic context. Individuals had to fly above this 50-mile threshold aboard a commercial vehicle to qualify for the wings under the standing rules prior to the program's temporary suspension.
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