Jeff Bezos unlikely to be considered an astronaut as US tightens rules to 'maintain the prestige'

Jeff Bezos's space flight no longer fulfils the criteria for the billionaire to be recognised as a commercial astronaut.  (Joe Raedle, Getty Images)

The US has tightened its definition of a commercial astronaut, meaning billionaire businessmen who launch themselves into space are unlikely to be recognised with the government's official "wings".

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) changed the Commercial Astronaut Wings Program eligibility requirements in the same week as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's space launch.

Mr Bezos, the world's richest man, became the second billionaire to fly into space, after Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson.

Both men are attempting to drum up business for their space tourism ventures.

Under the changes, to be considered a commercial astronaut you need to take part in activities that are "essential to public safety," or contribute to human space flight safety, the FAA said in a statement.

That means people who simply fork out money to sit in the capsule as it leaves Earth's atmosphere will likely not be considered astronauts.

Jeff Bezos and three crew members take off on the New Shepard rocket. (Reuters: Joe Skipper)

It is the first time the FAA has made changes to the wings eligibility since 2004. 

Before the FAA issued the new rules, Mr Bezos and the three crewmates who flew aboard his company Blue Origin's rocket would have qualified to receive commercial astronaut wings.

They met the only previous requirement of reaching an altitude of at least 80.5 kilometres, the US-recognised boundary of space.

In addition to the new safety criteria, to gain the wings a nomination is required and the spacecraft needs to be licensed by the agency.

A FAA spokesperson told CNN no nominations were currently under review. 

The world's richest man and three passengers successfully rocket briefly into space.

Billionaires eye space tourism

Sir Richard touted his July 11 mission as a precursor to a new era of space tourism, while Mr Bezos boasted that his first crewed space flight was a step toward building a road to space "so that our kids and their kids can build a future".

Both men have been criticised for chasing space tourism dollars and catering to the rich while so many are struggling amid the pandemic. 

Virgin Galactic says it already has more than 600 reservations from would-be space tourists, with tickets initially costing $US250,000 ($334,000) apiece. 

Blue Origin is expected to open ticket sales soon, but is yet to disclose the cost of a ride.