What did the FAA explicitly state regarding those who already received commercial astronaut wings before the pause decision?
Answer
The pause did not retroactively disqualify anyone who had already received wings
When announcing the suspension of eligibility requirements for future awards, the Federal Aviation Administration made a clear declaration regarding past achievements. They explicitly stated that the review process was not intended to be a commentary on the accomplishments of individuals who had already successfully completed their flights and received their wings prior to the decision to pause. This means that recipients like Richard Branson, who had already been honored, retained their wings, confirming that the policy review was focused solely on establishing standards for future commercial space travelers, not invalidating prior recognitions.
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