Re:Tom Wolfe mentioned this (Score 1)

Translated: Even though the early flights were made by monkeys, because the rockets, etc... were that easy to "pilot", were the early (Human) Astronauts considered pilots?

I think you've always had to be a pilot to be an Astronaut. The monkey, on the other hand, was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. (What're the signs for WTF? and Oh, SHIT!?)