WHAT DO WE CALL SPACE TOURISTS?

Now that we’re getting closer to sendings average schmoes into space, somebody is asking the question: What should we call these people? Space Tourists? Rocket Riders? Can they call themselves astronauts? Some thoughts on the matter:
– NASA chief Bill Nelson doesn’t consider himself an astronaut even though he spent six days orbiting Earth in 1986 aboard space shuttle Columbia — as a congressman. “I reserve that term for my professional colleagues,” Nelson said.
– Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, Blue Origin, is already calling its future clients “astronauts.”
– Computer game developer Richard Garriott — who paid his way to the International Space Station in 2008 with the Russians — claims, “I am an astronaut,” explaining that he trained for two years for the mission.
– Axiom Space’s Michael Lopez-Alegria, a former NASA astronaut, says, “If you go to space, you’re an astronaut.” His company is charging $55 million-a-seat, and his clients plan to conduct research up there.
* I’d call these people “nuts.”
* “Spoiled rich people”?
* “I paid a lot of money, I want a little name tag that says, ‘astronaut’, dammit!”
* How about:
– Floaters
– Star trekkers
– Gamblers
– Cargo
– Guinea pigs