Is William Shatner an Astronaut? Verified Status and Details

William Shatner became the oldest person to fly to space when he joined Blue Origin’s NS-18 mission on October 13, 2021. Although he is widely described as an astronaut, his status depends on how spaceflight and astronaut certification are defined by official programs and national authorities. He did not complete basic astronaut training with a government space agency, yet he earned astronaut wings from the U.S. Air Force and international flights qualify under the FAI definition of space. This verified explainer clarifies his credentials, flight records, and how different bodies define who is an astronaut.