Astronauts Wanted - Travel Required
Dateline: 07/25/00
Want to see the world? How about other worlds? Every two years, NASA selects about 20 new astronaut mission specialists and pilot astronauts from among some 3,500 applicants.
Once open only to select members of the U.S. military, the U.S. government job of astronaut can now be filled my any male or female U.S. citizen who is in good physical condition and meets the other requirements.
NASA has a strong affirmative action program goal of having qualified minorities and women among those selected as astronaut candidates. Therefore, qualified minorities and women are encouraged to apply.
Minimum Requirements for Mission Specialist Astronaut (Source: NASA)
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. Degree must be followed by at least three years of related, progressively responsible, professional experience. An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for part or all of the experience requirement (master's degree = 1 year of experience, doctoral degree = 3 years of experience). Quality of academic preparation is important.
- Ability to pass a NASA Class II space
physical, which is similar to a military or civilian Class II flight
physical and includes the following specific standards:
- Distance visual acuity: 20/200 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, each eye.
- Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in a sitting position.
- Height between 58.5 and 76 inches
Minimum Requirements for Pilot Astronaut (Source: NASA)
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. An advanced degree is desirable. Quality of academic preparation is important.
- At least 1,000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Flight test experience is highly desirable.
- Ability to pass a NASA Class I space physical
which is similar to a military or civilian Class I flight physical and
includes the following specific standards:
- Distant visual acuity: 20/70 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 each eye.
- Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in a sitting position.
- Height between 64 and 76 inches.
Criteria Used for Selection
NASA's Astronaut Review Board (ASB) conducts a detailed review of all applicants
meeting the minimum requirements and selects from them a small number of
candidates based on the following criteria as suggested by the U.S. Office of
Personnel Management:
- Experience and potential;
- motivation;
- ability to function as a member of a team;
- communicative abilities;
- adaptability; and,
- other related factors.
From among those candidates recommended by the ABS, final selections are made by the Director of the Johnson Spaceflight Center and the NASA Administrator.
Training Period - Final Selection
Applicants selected become "astronaut candidates" and begin an
initial one or two-year training and evaluation period at the Astronaut Office
on the Johnson Space Center in Houston,
Texas. Pilot astronaut candidates are also get to fly and become proficient in
NASA aircraft during the training period.
Civilian astronaut candidates who successfully complete the training period and are selected as astronauts then become permanent federal employees and are contracted to continue working at NASA for at least five years. Civilian candidates who are not selected as astronauts may elect to be placed in other NASA positions open at the time. Successful military candidates will become assigned to NASA for a specified tour of duty.
Pay and Benefits
As federal employees, civilian astronaut candidates make from about $43,000
to $93,000 per year based on the federal government's General Schedule pay scales for grades GS-11 through GS-14.
Benefits include vacation and sick leave, a retirement plan, and participation in health and life
insurance plans. 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.
How to Apply
Civilian candidates can download
an application forms package from: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/ah/jscjobs/aso/astroapp.htm
Or, by writing or calling:
NASA, Johnson Space Center
Attn: AHX/Astronaut Selection Office
Houston, TX 77058
Telephone: (281) 483-5907
Military personnel must submit applications to their respective military service and not directly to NASA. Application procedures will be handled by each service.
Post Astronaut Opportunities
Former Astronauts, whether they ever go into space or not, are highly sought
after by the aerospace industry as employees or consultants. Other former
astronauts have made lucrative incomes by writing books and speaking about their
experiences. And, of course, being a NASA astronaut can launch a career in
politics, as it did for former U.S. Senator John Glenn.
Got the "Right
Stuff?"
With the first crew members scheduled to board the International
Space Station this Oct. 30, and manned
missions to Mars planned for 2019, this is one of the most
exiting times to be an astronaut.
While NASA astronauts certainly live of the
most exciting and rewarding careers imaginable, the job is not for everybody.
The work is long, arduous, often dangerous, and the travel -- what
can I say?
Related Resources
Applications for Astronaut Candidate Program
Download the forms you need from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.How to Apply for NASA Jobs
NASA offers thousands of jobs for civilians throughout America. Get details on how to apply here.]NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The home page of NASA.
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