What key differentiator separates professional space travelers from private travelers regarding flight intent?

Whether they are flying as a representative of a government agency or as a private traveler

As the line blurs between government-sponsored and commercially funded space travel, a crucial distinction in determining appropriate labeling revolves around the traveler's intent and affiliation. If an individual is flying as a representative of a governmental body, like NASA or ESA, to fulfill a structured scientific or exploratory mandate, they fall under traditional categories like Astronaut. Conversely, if a person is a private citizen paying for passage primarily for personal experience—a private traveler—their designation often remains Customer or Spaceflight Participant until rigorous operational criteria are met, highlighting that agency representation versus private transaction is a key emerging differentiator.