Why did media feel the need to use a different word for Russian astronauts, cosmonaut, and now Chinese taikonauts?

by onewugtwowugs
Theropissed

That's what each respective calls them.

ThrindellOblinity

Astronaut has Greek origins - "astro-" (star) and "-naut" (sailor) - literally, "star sailor"

Cosmonaut also has Greek origins, except "cosmo-" (universe) - so, "universe sailor"

Taikonaut derives from the Chinese word for space - "taikong"