Is William Shatner an Astronaut
William Shatner flew to space twice on Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital missions, but he is not a career astronaut with NASA or Roscosmos. He is best known as an actor, author, and public figure who participated in commercial spaceflights. His flights place him in the category of commercial astronaut or spaceflight participant under current industry definitions.
The term astronaut is often reserved for professional spaceflyers with military, government, or agency training, while private citizens on brief commercial trips are typically called spaceflight participants. Shatner's status depends on the definition used, but his two flights on Blue Origin vehicles are documented and publicly reported.
William Shatner's Space Flights and Blue Origin
Blue Origin New Shepard Missions
Shatner flew on Blue Origin's NS-18 mission on October 13, 2021, and later on NS-20 on March 31, 2022, both aboard the New Shepard suborbital rocket and capsule system. These flights reached an altitude above the Kármán line, the commonly used boundary for space, and provided several minutes of microgravity before returning to Earth.
Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, operates New Shepard as a reusable suborbital vehicle designed for tourism and research. The vehicle uses a single BE-3PM engine, launches from Corn Ranch in West Texas, and lands via parachute and retrorocket system. Shatner's participation is part of Blue Origin's broader commercial human spaceflight program, which also includes payload and research missions.
Astronaut Definitions and Commercial Spaceflight Context
What Qualifies Someone as an Astronaut
Agencies like NASA and the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation use different criteria to recognize astronaut wings or commercial astronaut designations. FAA commercial astronaut wings are awarded to individuals who demonstrate activities during flight that were essential to public safety or contributed to human spaceflight safety.
In the commercial sector, companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic define their own crew and participant roles based on training, responsibilities, and flight profile. SpaceX's Crew Dragon missions involve NASA-certified astronauts and company-trained personnel, while suborbital providers like Blue Origin classify participants and crew members according to FAA and internal standards.
Shatner's Role and Public Statements
Shatner has described his spaceflights as profound experiences and has spoken publicly about the overview effect, the cognitive shift reported by some astronauts when viewing Earth from space. He has used his platform to discuss space accessibility, the growth of commercial spaceflight, and the importance of continued investment in reusable launch systems.
As of the latest public reporting, Shatner remains active in media, entertainment, and advocacy around space and technology topics. His flights are cited in discussions about the democratization of space and the expanding role of private citizens in human spaceflight programs operated by companies such as Blue Origin and SpaceX.