Operated or staffed by people (as opposed to automated); or the past tense of 'man' meaning to operate or guard something.
From Old English 'mann' meaning 'person,' used as a verb starting in medieval times. The modern adjective usage became common with technology (manned vs. unmanned spacecraft).
The term 'manned spacecraft' became essential NASA vocabulary during the Space Race, but modern terminology increasingly uses 'crewed' instead because 'manned' is considered outdated when both men and women participate!
'Manned' assumes male default for labor/operation; 'staffed' emerged as neutral alternative in mid-20th century aerospace/military contexts where gender diversity became visible.
Use 'staffed,' 'crewed,' or 'operated by humans' instead. 'Manned' persists in aerospace jargon but is increasingly recognized as gendered.
["staffed","crewed","human-operated"]
Women were systematically excluded from 'manned' spaceflight and aviation roles; using neutral terms acknowledges women's current and historical contributions to these fields.
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