So You Want To Be An Astronaut...
NASA ASTRONAUTS
Alan Shepherd, John Glenn, Jr., and Sally Ride are names that conjure up images
of bravery and adventure. As astronauts, they are part of a select group who
probably have some of the most recognizable names in our country.
When the space program began in 1959, NASA asked the U.S. Military services to
list their members who met specific qualifications. After a series of intense
physical and psychological screenings, NASA selected seven men from an original
field of 500 candidates. Since then, much has changed. Today, aspiring
astronauts compete with an average of 3,500 other applicants for about 20 slots
as mission specialists or pilot astronauts that open up every two years.
Competition is keen. However, any adult man or woman in good physical
condition who meets the basic qualifications, including U.S. citizenship, could
be selected to enter astronaut training.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
The minimum requirements include a bachelor's degree in engineering, science,
or mathematics from an accredited institution. However, an advanced degree is
desirable. Additionally, all applicants must have substantial directly related
experience and pilot astronauts must have at least 1,000 hours of experience in
jet aircraft. Information on specific experience requirements, as well as
additional medical and physical requirements, can be obtained from the Johnson
Space Center at the address listed below.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Following a thorough review of all applications, the Astronaut Selection Board
(ASB) interviews a small number of highly-qualified applicants and evaluates
them based on the following criteria:
- Experience and potential;
- motivation;
- ability to function as a member of a team;
- communicative abilities;
- adaptability; and,
- other related factors.
Additionally, applicants must meet NASA spaceflight medical standards.
Although the ASB recommends candidates for selection, the Director of the
Johnson Space Center and the NASA Administrator make the final decisions. Once
selected, candidates begin a rigorous training program.
Selected applicants are first designated as "astronaut candidates" and are
assigned to the Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas.
There they undergo a one to two year training and evaluation period, after
which time they are assigned technical or scientific responsibilities allowing
them to contribute substantially to ongoing programs. They participate in the
basic astronaut training program which is designed to develop the knowledge and
skills required for formal mission training upon selection for a flight.
(Pilot astronaut candidates maintain proficiency in NASA aircraft during their
candidate period.)
Selection as an astronaut candidate does not insure selection as an astronaut.
Final selection as an astronaut depends upon satisfactory completion of the
training and evaluation period. Civilian candidates who successfully complete
the training and evaluation and are selected as astronauts will become
permanent Federal employees and are expected to remain with NASA for a period
of at least five years.
Civilian candidates who are not selected as astronauts may be placed in other
positions with NASA depending upon work requirements. Successful military
candidates will be detailed to NASA for a specified tour of duty.
Although most astronauts feel they could not imagine a better career, it is
clearly not for everyone. The work is often long and arduous; and travel,
particularly before and after a launch, can be intensive.
HOW TO APPLY
Civilian candidates may obtain an application package through NASA's
Astronaut web site at
http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/jobs/astronauts/aso_sp2.htm,
or they may write or call the Astronaut Office at:
NASA, Johnson Space Center
Attn: AHX/Astronaut Selection Office
Houston, TX 77058
Telephone: (281) 483-5907
Active Duty Military personnel must submit applications to their
respective military service and not directly to NASA. Application
procedures will be disseminated by each service.
PAY AND BENEFITS
Salaries for selected civilian astronaut candidates are based on the
Federal Government's General Schedule pay scales for grades GS-11 through
GS-14 (approximately $43,000 to $93,000), and are set in accordance with
each individual's academic achievements and experience. Other benefits
include vacation and sick leave, a retirement plan, and participation in
health and life insurance plans.
Selected military personnel will be detailed to the Johnson Space Center,
but will remain in an active duty status for pay, benefits, leave, and
other similar military matters.
AS OF: 12-20-1999
NASA ASTRONAUTS can be printed as it appears on your browser.
It also can be printed as an exact replica of the official publication (ei-49.pdf). Download the file by clicking on the .pdf file name and follow print help instructions below.
TOP
PRINT TIPS:
To Print your browser File:
*Prints file as it appears on your browser.
Most web browsers support an option to print the document that is displayed
on the screen. Simply choose the option to print the document (usually
located under the file option) and then choose the option to print. How the
document prints is dependent on the printer you are using.
If you are on a local area network (LAN) then you may need to select a printer
before you can print. An option to do this is normally available in the same
area that you choose to print a document.
You will also need to make sure that the printer is powered on, is on-line, and has paper available.
To Print an *Adobe Acrobat/PDF files:
*Prints exact replica of official publication.
The Adobe Acrobat reader is a freeware product available from Adobe at
http://access.adobe.com. There are versions of the Adobe Acrobat reader for
several computer platforms. Click here http://access.adobe.com to connect to
the Adobe Acrobat site. Once there you can obtain the reader for your
computer platform. Follow the instructions on the Adobe site to install the
reader on your system. Once you have installed the reader you can view or
print files that end in .PDF.
Some browsers will allow you to configure a "helper" application that will load
the Adobe Acrobat reader whenever you click on a file that ends in .PDF.
Please refer to the instructions that came with your web browser on how to set
up or install a "helper" application. The Adobe site also contains instructions
on how to do this.
The Windows file manager will also allow you to specify an association so that
whenever Windows needs to display a file that ends in .PDF it will load the
Adobe Acrobat reader.
TOP
|