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	Archive-name: space/astronaut
	Last-modified: $Date: 93/04/01 14:39:02 $
	First the short form, authored by Henry Spencer, then an official NASA
	announcement.
	Q. How do I become an astronaut?
	A. We will assume you mean a NASA astronaut, since it's probably
	impossible for a non-Russian to get into the cosmonaut corps (paying
	passengers are not professional cosmonauts), and the other nations have
	so few astronauts (and fly even fewer) that you're better off hoping to
	win a lottery. Becoming a shuttle pilot requires lots of fast-jet
	experience, which means a military flying career; forget that unless you
	want to do it anyway. So you want to become a shuttle "mission
	specialist".
	If you aren't a US citizen, become one; that is a must. After that,
	the crucial thing to remember is that the demand for such jobs vastly
	exceeds the supply. NASA's problem is not finding qualified people,
	but thinning the lineup down to manageable length. It is not enough
	to be qualified; you must avoid being disqualified for any reason,
	many of them in principle quite irrelevant to the job.
	Get a Ph.D. Specialize in something that involves getting your hands
	dirty with equipment, not just paper and pencil. Forget computer
	programming entirely; it will be done from the ground for the fore-
	seeable future. Degree(s) in one field plus work experience in
	another seems to be a frequent winner.
	Be in good physical condition, with good eyesight. (DO NOT get a
	radial keratomy or similar hack to improve your vision; nobody knows
	what sudden pressure changes would do to RKed eyes, and long-term
	effects are poorly understood. For that matter, avoid any other
	significant medical unknowns.) If you can pass a jet-pilot physical,
	you should be okay; if you can't, your chances are poor.
	Practise public speaking, and be conservative and conformist in
	appearance and actions; you've got a tough selling job ahead, trying
	to convince a cautious, conservative selection committee that you
	are better than hundreds of other applicants. (And, also, that you
	will be a credit to NASA after you are hired: public relations is
	a significant part of the job, and NASA's image is very prim and
	proper.) The image you want is squeaky-clean workaholic yuppie.
	Remember also that you will need a security clearance at some point,
	and Security considers everybody guilty until proven innocent.
	Keep your nose clean.
	Get a pilot's license and make flying your number one hobby;
	experienced pilots are known to be favored even for non-pilot jobs.
	Work for NASA; of 45 astronauts selected between 1984 and 1988,
	43 were military or NASA employees, and the remaining two were
	a NASA consultant and Mae Jemison (the first black female astronaut).
	If you apply from outside NASA and miss, but they offer you a job
	at NASA, *TAKE IT*; sometimes in the past this has meant "you
	do look interesting but we want to know you a bit better first".
	Think space: they want highly motivated people, so lose no chance
	to demonstrate motivation.
	Keep trying. Many astronauts didn't make it the first time.
	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
	Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
	Houston, Texas
	Announcement for Mission Specialist and Pilot Astronaut Candidates
	Astronaut Candidate Program
	The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a need for
	Pilot Astronaut Candidates and Mission Specialist Astronaut Candidates
	to support the Space Shuttle Program. NASA is now accepting on a
	continuous basis and plans to select astronaut candidates as needed.
	Persons from both the civilian sector and the military services will be
	considered.
	All positions are located at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in
	Houston, Texas, and will involved a 1-year training and evaluation
	program.
	Space Shuttle Program Description
	The numerous successful flights of the Space Shuttle have demonstrated
	that operation and experimental investigations in space are becoming
	routine. The Space Shuttle Orbiter is launched into, and maneuvers in
	the Earth orbit performing missions lastling up to 30 days. It then
	returns to earth and is ready for another flight with payloads and
	flight crew.
	The Orbiter performs a variety of orbital missions including deployment
	and retrieval of satellites, service of existing satellites, operation
	of specialized laboratories (astronomy, earth sciences, materials
	processing, manufacturing), and other operations. These missions will
	eventually include the development and servicing of a permanent space
	station. The Orbiter also provides a staging capability for using higher
	orbits than can be achieved by the Orbiter itself. Users of the Space
	Shuttle's capabilities are both domestic and foreign and include
	government agencies and private industries.
	The crew normally consists of five people - the commander, the pilot,
	and three mission specialists. On occasion additional crew members are
	assigned. The commander, pilot, and mission specialists are NASA
	astronauts.
	Pilot Astronaut
	Pilot astronauts server as both Space Shuttle commanders and pilots.
	During flight the commander has onboard responsibility for the vehicle,
	crew, mission success and safety in flight. The pilot assists the
	commander in controlling and operating the vehicle. In addition, the
	pilot may assist in the deployment and retrieval of satellites utilizing
	the remote manipulator system, in extra-vehicular activities, and other
	payload operations.
	Mission Specialist Astronaut
	Mission specialist astronauts, working with the commander and pilot,
	have overall responsibility for the coordination of Shuttle operations
	in the areas of crew activity planning, consumables usage, and
	experiment and payload operations. Mission specialists are required to
	have a detailed knowledge of Shuttle systems, as well as detailed
	knowledge of the operational characteristics, mission requirements and
	objectives, and supporting systems and equipment for each of the
	experiments to be conducted on their assigned missions. Mission
	specialists will perform extra-vehicular activities, payload handling
	using the remote manipulator system, and perform or assist in specific
	experimental operations.
	Astronaut Candidate Program
	Basic Qualification Requirements
	Applicants MUST meet the following minimum requirements prior to
	submitting an application.
	Mission Specialist Astronaut Candidate:
	1. 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, doctoral degree = 3 years). Quality of academic
	preparation is important.
	2. Ability to pass a NASA class II space physical, which is similar to a
	civilian or military class II flight physical and includes the following
	specific standards:
	Distant visual acuity:
	20/150 or better uncorrected,
	correctable to 20/20, each eye.
	Blood pressure:
	140/90 measured in sitting position.
	3. Height between 58.5 and 76 inches.
	Pilot Astronaut Candidate:
	1. 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. Quality of
	academic preparation is important.
	2. At least 1000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Flight
	test experience highly desirable.
	3. 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:
	20/50 or better uncorrected
	correctable to 20/20, each eye.
	Blood pressure:
	140/90 measured in sitting position.
	4. Height between 64 and 76 inches.
	Citizenship Requirements
	Applications for the Astronaut Candidate Program must be citizens of
	the United States.
	Note on Academic Requirements
	Applicants for the Astronaut Candidate Program must meet the basic
	education requirements for NASA engineering and scientific positions --
	specifically: successful completion of standard professional curriculum
	in an accredited college or university leading to at least a bachelor's
	degree with major study in an appropriate field of engineering,
	biological science, physical science, or mathematics.
	The following degree fields, while related to engineering and the
	sciences, are not considered qualifying:
	- Degrees in technology (Engineering Technology, Aviation Technology,
	Medical Technology, etc.)
	- Degrees in Psychology (except for Clinical Psychology, Physiological
	Psychology, or Experimental Psychology which are qualifying).
	- Degrees in Nursing.
	- Degrees in social sciences (Geography, Anthropology, Archaeology, etc.)
	- Degrees in Aviation, Aviation Management or similar fields.
	Application Procedures
	Civilian
	The application package may be obtained by writing to:
	NASA Johnson Space Center
	Astronaut Selection Office
	Houston, TX 77058
	Civilian applications will be accepted on a continuous basis. When NASA
	decides to select additional astronaut candidates, consideration will be
	given only to those applications on hand on the date of decision is
	made. Applications received after that date will be retained and
	considered for the next selection. Applicants will be notified annually
	of the opportunity to update their applications and to indicate
	continued interest in being considered for the program. Those applicants
	who do not update their applications annually will be dropped from
	consideration, and their applications will not be retained. After the
	preliminary screening of applications, additional information may be
	requested for some applicants, and person listed on the application as
	supervisors and references may be contacted.
	Active Duty Military
	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.
	Selection
	Personal interviews and thorough medical evaluations will be required
	for both civilian and military applicants under final consideration.
	Once final selections have been made, all applicants who were considered
	will be notified of the outcome of the process.
	Selection rosters established through this process may be used for the
	selection of additional candidates during a one year period following
	their establishment.
	General Program Requirements
	Selected applicants will be designated Astronaut Candidates and will be
	assigned to the Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center, Houston,
	Texas. The astronaut candidates will undergo a 1 year training and
	evaluation period during which time they will be assigned technical or
	scientific responsibilities allowing them to contribute substantially to
	ongoing programs. They will also 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 will maintain proficiency in NASA aircraft during
	their candidate period.
	Applicants should be aware that selection as an astronaut candidate does
	not insure selection as an astronaut. Final selection as an astronaut
	will depend on satisfactory completion of the 1 year training and
	evaluation period. Civilian candidates who successfully complete the
	training and evaluation and are selected as astronauts will become
	permanent Federal employees and will be 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 within NASA
	depending upon Agency requirements and manpower constraints at that
	time. Successful military candidates will be detailed to NASA for a
	specified tour of duty.
	NASA has an affirmative action program goal of having qualified
	minorities and women among those qualified as astronaut candidates.
	Therefore, qualified minorities and women are encouraged to apply.
	Pay and Benefits
	Civilians
	Salaries for civilian astronaut candidates are based on the Federal
	Governments General Schedule pay scales for grades GS-11 through GS-14,
	and are set in accordance with each individuals academic achievements
	and experience.
	Other benefits include vacation and sick leave, a retirement plan, and
	participation in group health and life insurance plans.
	Military
	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.
	NEXT: FAQ #15/15 - Orbital and Planetary Launch Services