[dbosch]

they are not "astronauts", but taïkonauts. The chinese term for going into space. Astronauts are for US. Cosmonauts for Russians. and Spationauts for Europeans.

[Normal_gaussian]

They are astronauts. Your definitions are off

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/astronaut

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/cosmonaut

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/taikonaut

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astronaut

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cosmonaut

[ Merriam-Webster doesn't define Taïkonaut ]

[dbosch]

Actually, the Russian call their space people "Cosmonauts". "Astronaut" has been chosen by NASA, while the USSR chose "Cosmonaut". But you're right regarding the chinese. They are not called Taikonaut in their own country. But neither "astronaut". link : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronaut Check the terminology section.

I just wanted to highligth that only NASA (or English speaker world) call their astronaut "astronaut". In europe, we call them spationauts. And in russia, they call them "cosmonauts".

[wodenokoto]

The Russian calls lots of things differently than the Americans do.

Also, nobody in Denmark says spationaut. We say Astronaut, so not all of Europe and not only English speakers.

[dbosch]

I do hear you, buddy. I'm french, and I do say "Astronaut" when I speaking about space. I'm just stating that in newspaper (not always), they say "spationaut". It's just how it's supposed to be said. But not everyone is following this. And it's ok. I was just highlighting the fact that there is a different name for people going to space regarding the country they are from. That's all.

But yeah, the american word it has probably won in the popular culture and in the day-to-day language.

Sorry. I didn't want to sound like Mr. know it all.