The first African-American Woman to pilot a spacecraft

[Girl17]

Hey! I was just reading about the recent "Inspiration 4" space flight. As you might imagine, I was attracted by the headline that Sian Proctor is now the world's very first African-American Woman to pilot a spacecraft. That's good news. It fulfills the "Inspiration" mandate wonderfully- a member of an under-represented and often excluded demographic demonstrating that such technically challenging achievements are well within the reach of anyone who puts her mind to them.

But wait a minute. Says here the spacecraft was 100% entirely automated. The "pilot" is a geography professor of some renown as well as a poet and artiste. Wikipedia mentions nothing about any flight qualifications. The (white, male) self-appointed "Commander"'s flying qualifications are well-documented. AND the information in the "Q&A" on SpaceX's site for the ship itself says the touch-screen in the cabin could be used to make course-corrections (but was not). Media does state that Dr. Proctor was short-listed from a cadre of real astronaut candidates at some point in the past, which is impressive, but again mentions no history of even recreational flying, which one assumes they would if there was any.

I may be out if line, but I feel that, aside from the silly call-signs, badges and imaginary crew positions these passengers had fun with, there really ought to be some minimum definition of what constitutes "piloting" before we all start pissing ourselves over the Incredible Achievement this woman has made. I mean even a 300-hour Jazz co-pilot has buttons they know how to press to make the Dash-8 do stuff.

Jealous? Damn right. But I figure I might be "The first little blonde girl with pig-tails to Pilot the zoomba-flume at Canada's Wonderland on opening day 1988" and I want MY goddamn wikipedia entry.

When I was five, I put my hamster, Mr. Tickles, in my radio-controlled Barbie Dream Convertible and drove it around. I suppose Mr. Tickles deserved some recognition at the time for being the world's first hamster to drive a pink convertible, but no-one gives a damn about hamsters. Especially male ones. Well, presumably he was male. I don't remember checking.

[digits_]

The more awards, prizes and medals are given out, the more chance you'll get one, but the less meaningful they'll become.

The next really meaningful one will likely be "First Human on Mars".

[scabbydoo]

Nail on the head. 4 pax with self-appointed titles.