Ivan Shmakov wrote to Roy Witt:   
      
    ak>> Well, but the USSR was the first in space, so its term "cosmonaut"   
    ak>> is a registered term next to "sputnik." Beside this, "astronaut"   
    ak>> IMHO is too pompous and incorrect word.   
      
    RW>> Astro has been in use for centurys, as in astrology and many other   
    RW>> endeavors.   
      
    IS>     The point is that Greek "astron" means "star," but as of yet,   
    IS>     there're no known cases of any /astronaut/ actually reaching any   
    IS>     /star./  (Including Sol, for several reasons.)   
      
   But there is no 'n' in astro, even if the word was derived from the Greek   
   word astron. A star is something regarded as resembling such a celestial   
   body. When you see the glowing body of the International Space Station   
   (ISS) fly overhead, that fits the description of a star.   
      
      
      
            R\%/itt   
      
      
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