So you want NASA to fly you to the moon and get you play among the stars . Maybe let you see what bound is like on a - Jupiter and Mars ? Well , you ’re going to need more than a solid Sinatra picture to get NASA to accept you into its spacefaring membership — a whole draw more .
First , the bad news : NASA ’s already hyper - single astronaut political program has been shrinking precipitously since the scratch line of the century — egg on by the demise of the manned shuttle programme . Between 2000 and 2011 , NASA ’s spaceman membership have shrunk from 150 to just 61 . A 2011 study direct by the National Research Council , however , warned that the US may notice itself short of space cowhand unless it bulge out lease more . And that ’s where you come in .
Get in the Pool
NASA start its astronaut hunt in 1959 , before long after the government agency itself sprang to life history , though the original crop of extraterrestrial flyboys were cultivated exclusively from member of the armed forces . Out of the entire US armed forces systems only seven — all piece , all fender — were tapped to become the first astronauts . However , much has change since the showtime of the Cold War . Now anybody who meet the basic requirements , regardless of race or grammatical gender , can utilize to NASA .
Understand however , that your occupation as an cosmonaut wo n’t just be you float around waiting to talk to school kids back on Earth . This is physically and mentally exhausting workplace . As the NASA Astronauts website explain :
cosmonaut are involved in all aspect of assembly and on - orbit operations of the ISS This includes extravehicular activeness ( EVA ) , robotics performance using the remote operator organization , experimentation procedure , and onboard upkeep tasks . Astronauts are required to have a detailed knowledge of the ISS systems , as well as elaborated knowledge of the operational characteristics , commission requirements and objectives , and support arrangement and equipment for each experiment on their designate missionary work .
retentive - duration delegation aboard the ISS generally last from 3 to 6 months . Training for foresighted duration missions is very toilsome and takes some 2 to 3 years . This education want extensive travel , include long periods aside in other countries training with our International partners . journey to and from the ISS will be aboard the Russian Soyuz fomite . Consequently , astronauts must meet the Soyuz size requirements .
What ’s more , you must be qualified for the perspective to which you are applying and each crowd side — pilot , commander , mission medical specialist , and load specialist — has slightly unlike requirements .
General Astronaut Candidates ( Non - Piloting screen background )
You have to be a US citizen ( either natural or established ) or hold twofold citizenship between the US and another body politic .
You require a bachelor ’s degree from an licensed institution in engineering , biological science , strong-arm scientific discipline , or mathematics . These are the only orbit that NASA is interested in .
You must have “ at least 3 yr of related , increasingly responsible , professional experience or at least 1,000 archetype - in - command time in jet aircraft ” following the award of your degree . That signify you either go into the line of work populace , pursue a doctor’s degree ( which count as three years experience ) , or start flying jets for the US military or the commercial airline . you’re able to also become a teacher , as k-12 educators are often recruited by the representation .
You have to be in shape and capable to pass the NASA long - duration outer space flight physical , as well as have correctable vision to 20/20 in each eye .
Pilots and Commanders
Those looking to command a space vehicle must receive the following requirements :
You must hold a unmarried man ’s academic degree from an accredited institution in technology , biological science , physical science , or maths . Bonus points for forward-looking degrees , yucky gamy mental testing scores , and the quality of your foundation .
You ask at least 1,000 hour pilot - in - command time in super acid aircraft . Test pilot film are highly seek after .
You must be able to pass a NASA outer space physical with the follow summate requirement :
Distant ocular keenness : 20/100 or better uncorrected , amendable to 20/20 each eye .
stock pressure : 140/90 .
Height : between 62 and 75 inches .
Mission Specialists
Mission Specialists ( and , by extension , the subclass of Payload Specialist ) handle everything except flying the spacecraft and commanding . That include monitor consumables usage , do spacewalks , execute the remote manipulator arm to catch incoming Dragon capsules , and more . Basic requirements for this military position disagree slenderly from the ecumenical astronaut list above . While you still must have a bachelor ’s stage , be a citizen , and lumber 1,000 hr of flight of steps time , you also require to measure out up to the follow physical specs when passing your NASA space physical :
Distance visual sharpness : 20/200 or good uncorrected , correctable to 20/20 , each eye
Blood insistency : 140/90 measured in a baby-sit position
Height between 58.5 and 76 inches
How to Apply
If you satisfy these basic requirement and recollect you ’ve got what it takes to go to space , fill out a NASA diligence : either thecivilian versionor the one foractive duty military machine . But empathize that your chance , right out of the logic gate , are very slim . NASA only pick classes of unexampled candidates once every presidential term these mean solar day , and out of the 6,000 to 8,000 applicants each round , only 8 to 35 actually make it in .
“ If a student comes to me and says , ‘ I want to be an cosmonaut , ’ I tell them , ‘ Great : Excel in your coursework , go get a aviate license and learn to play the guitar , ' ” John Armstrong , a professor of physics at Weber State University , told USA Today .
Get Your Foot in the Pod Bay Door
If your app has gotten past the preliminary screening process , you and 100 or so other finalists will be invited to a hebdomad - long trial by ordeal of interviews , medical screenings , background verification , and orientation course films . The interviews are going to be your bad vault .
There is no single pilot for an astronaut anymore and , in fact , the choice commission often seem for diversity in its crews . You will need to show that you have a wide grasp of passions beyond your primary acquisition set — avid out-of-door venturer are often extremely sought after but anybody that demonstrates the willingness to fox themselves in full behind a fresh endeavor in edict to stand out at it will make a very good impression .
“ It comes down to how much of a irrefutable impression you make on the interview instrument panel , ” Tom Jones , a former NASA astronaut who fly on four shuttle missions , told USA Today . “ They size you up in an hr and decide if you ’re a soul they and others would like to mould with . ”
So verify to smile !
“ Basically , we ’re looking for courteous people who can do the business , excrete the aesculapian necessary and can be part of a squad for a recollective duration in an isolated environment , ” Duane Ross , the manager for astronaut prospect selection and grooming evidence USA Today . “ The proficient news show is we ’ve got a lot more expectant people than we could ever take . ”
Let the Training Begin
Once you ’ve charmed your way past the people who may eventually become your crewmates , do n’t get comfy . You ’ve get another 2 -3 years of study forwards of you . Selected applicants are destine Astronaut Candidates and are assigned to the Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston , Texas .
There , you will undergo strict training and valuation political platform — essentially an astronaut boot camp that will civilize you in everything NASA . You ’ll have to pass PADI certification , perfect military water survival preparation , and endure multitudinous hours of classroom education as you learn the Hoosier State and out of being in space before you ever even set pes in a flight simulator .
Even the first calendar month ’s swim trial is a catgut puncher : you must swim 3 length of a 25 - M pool without stopping , then swim 3 lengths of the pool in a flight suit and tennis place , then step water continuously for 10 minutes .
And do n’t think that just because you ’ve made it to “ candidate ” that you ’ll make it to “ astronaut . ” You ’ll first have to fall the following campaigner courses : International Space Station systems grooming , Extravehicular Activity skills breeding , Robotics skills training , Russian spoken communication training , and aircraft flight readiness education . However , if you do pass , you ’ll become a permanent federal employee ( and all the benefits that hail with civil serving ) . Even if you are n’t picked to be an astronaut , there ’s a upright chance that NASA will be capable to place you somewhere else within the governing body .
While awaiting missions , many neophyte cosmonaut are similarly assigned throughout the agency ( and international partners like JAXA or the UKSA ) where they can pick up extra space flight skills . Once they ’ve in reality been selected for a mission , candidates have another mates of years of study , drill , and preparation for their trip .
So at a bare minimum , you ’re looking at a minimum of six years to become an astronaut , and that ’s seize you get it on the first try — Jones , for representative , had to reapply seven times before he was even selected as a campaigner . Still , all that oeuvre seems a small toll to bear for the opportunity to spend six months offworld , performing cutting boundary science in an orbital laboratory with some of the brightest brain on the planet . [ NASA1,2 – USA Today – infinite ]
NASASpace
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