Astronauts - NASA Astronauts The term “astronaut” derives from the Greek words meaning “star sailor,” and refers to all who have been launched as crew members aboard NASA spacecraft bound for orbit and beyond The term “astronaut” has been maintained as the title for those selected to join the NASA corps of astronauts who make “star sailing” their career profession
Astronaut | Definition, Facts, Training | Britannica Astronaut, designation, derived from the Greek words for ‘star’ and ‘sailor,’ commonly applied in the West to an individual who has flown in outer space As of 2022, 587 individuals from 41 countries had gone into orbit; 518 of these space fliers were men and 69 were women