What's the Difference Between Cosmonauts and Astronauts?

[DanS]

Too much confusion, Groucho. We pay the Russians to launch from Baikonour, with a mixed astronaut/cosmonaut crew. The Russians don't want to rent Baikonour anymore, so now they're moving operations to Russia proper.

I have to admit that "cosmodrome" really rolls off the tongue. Much better than "spaceport", even though there's an economy of syllables.

"which should not be taken too seriously unless for political reasons, which is actually the case"

Vagabond: It's amazing how many tens of billions of dollars has been spent just so we could say "astronaut" as opposed to "cosmonaut".

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by DanS
I became curious about this because the Dutch spaceman sent to the Space Station was called an astronaut whereas his Russian co-worker was called a cosmonaut.

Not surprisingly, for political reasons, the Dutch chose to defy the logic and to use 'astronaut' for their spacemen. They wouldn't want to upset their allies, would they?

[The Vagabond]

DanS, if the criterion is not the priority but rather the amount of dollars spent, then perhaps 'astronaut' wins over 'cosmonaut'.

[The Vagabond]

By the way, big thanks to the Greeks for all these neat words.

[Harovan]

Wasn't that French guy, IIRC Jean-Loup Chrétien, called spationaut. That would be yet another word for the same thing.

[Dauphin]

Space cowboys is my favourite term.

[DanS]

Sir Ralph: So true.

And it's just like the French too. Create a new term without creating a manned spaceflight program for themselves. Trying to get in on the cheap.

Edit: But then it appears that "spationauts" also refers sometimes to Italians as well?

[Serb]

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola
The difference between cosmonauts and astronaugts is that astronauts get paid regularly.

Mistake... Astronauts should pay about 20 000 000 $ to Russians launch them on orbit. Cosmonauts have free tickets.

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by Ade
So, what does "Taikonaut" (the Chinese...) mean?

Erm...'take-out'-naut?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by paiktis22
Here's an explanation however.

There are idiots everywhere.

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin


What does stella mean? Or is it just a name.

I know stellar (as in star) is taken from latin, but there is also a greek word/name stella. Isn't there?

Yes there is. That's my girlfriend's name actually

However I don't know its etymology and I don't think it comes from Greek althoug I'm not sure. I think it's Latin-born. (One of the few latin words that have not their origins in Greek but were created later on, autonomously).

[DanS]

I'm amazed that everybody is giving the Greeks credit for all of this.

We all know that the origin is some ancient Indo-European language. "naut" being derived from "nau", meaning "boat".

[Bereta_Eder]

Well since they are Greek words, it is only appropriate.

Cosmodrome comes from Cosmos and Dromos which means road BTW.


Did some search about Stella and it does come from Latin for Star.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by DanS
I'm amazed that everybody is giving the Greeks credit for all of this.

We all know that the origin is some ancient Indo-European language. "naut" being derived from "nau", meaning "boat".

Which possibly came from "na", a form of grunt to indicate one of the pre-hominid-apes had found water. How far back do you wanna go?

[DanS]

Pre-hominid apes is far back enough.