I dunno. Being an astronaut doesn't sound much better when you put it reductively.
"Astronaut" doesn't mean "space adventurer" at all. Most of the time is spent in training and classes on the ground. Moreover, once you go out to space -- supposing you ever get to go, not likely -- you find that there's nothing there (that's what "space" means), most notably, no bars, movie theaters, or hot young people of your preferred gender. And the whole deal might be scrapped if the wrong political party gains power and slashes NASA's budget by 50%.
Yeah, if fame/status/respect is what you're looking for, astronaut is not a great deal right now. Way to much effort for what you get. But that's not the only reason to pursue the profession.
"Astronaut" doesn't mean "space adventurer" at all. Most of the time is spent in training and classes on the ground. Moreover, once you go out to space -- supposing you ever get to go, not likely -- you find that there's nothing there (that's what "space" means), most notably, no bars, movie theaters, or hot young people of your preferred gender. And the whole deal might be scrapped if the wrong political party gains power and slashes NASA's budget by 50%.