NASA astronaut mins

ASA120 · Post by **ASA120** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 8:13 pm

NASA astronaut mins
Selection and Training for the Future

In the future, the United States with its international partners Japan, Canada, Russia and the European Space Agency, will operate a man-tended space station. From that orbiting depot, humans will continue their journeys to the Moon and Mars. As these plans become reality, the need for qualified space flight professionals will increase.

To respond to these needs, NASA accepts applications for the Astronaut Candidate Program on a continuous basis. Candidates are selected as needed, normally every two years, for pilot and mission specialist categories. Both civilian and military personnel are considered for the program. Civilians may apply at any time. Military personnel must apply through their parent service and be nominated by their service to NASA.

The astronaut candidate selection process was developed to select highly qualified individuals for human space programs. For mission specialists and pilot astronaut candidates, the education and experience requirements are at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics.

For mission specialist applicants, three years of related, progressively responsible professional experience must follow the degree. An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for all or part of the experience requirement (i.e., master's degree = 1 year of work experience, doctoral degree = 3 years of experience). Pilot astronaut applicants must also meet the following requirements prior to submitting an application:

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: for vision-distance visual acuity - 20/70 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, each eye. For Blood Pressure-140/90 measured in a sitting position.
Height between 64 and 76 inches.
Mission specialists have similar requirements to pilot astronauts, except that the qualifying physical is a NASA Class II space physical, which is similar to a military of civilian Class II flight physical and includes the following specific standards: for vision-distance visual acuity - 20/200 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, each eye. For Blood pressure-Same as for Pilots. Height requirements for mission specialists are between 58.5 and 76 inches.
The application package may be obtained by writing to the Astronaut Selection Office, Mail Code AHX, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058-3696.

Applicants who meet the basic qualifications are evaluated by discipline panels. Those selected as finalists are screened during a week-long process of personal interviews, thorough medical evaluations, and orientation. The Astronaut Selection Board's recommendations are based on the applicant's education, training, and experience as well as unique qualifications and skills. Because several hundred applicants fulfill the requirements, the final selection is based largely on personal interviews. Astronauts are expected to be team players and highly skilled generalists with just the right amount of individuality and self-reliance to be effective crew members.

Selected applicants are designated astronaut candidates and assigned to the astronaut office at the Johnson Space Center for a 1 to 2 year training and evaluation program. Civilian candidates who successfully complete the training and evaluation and are selected astronauts are expected to remain with NASA for at least 5 years. Successful military candidates are detailed to NASA for a specified tour of duty.

Salaries for civilian astronaut candidates are based on the Federal Government's General Schedule pay scales for grades GS-11 through GS-14, and are set in accordance with each individual's academic achievements and experience.

Pirx · Post by **Pirx** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:15 pm

what???
No PPC pr time on type reqiured?

Snarky · Post by **Snarky** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:44 pm

Is there a training bond for the shuttle? How is it that you can fly the shuttle for NASA with 20/20 corrected vision but can't enter the forces without 20/20 uncorrected?

Youngback · Post by **Youngback** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:27 am

The US armed forces have more lax standards than Canada does. You can get in and be a fighter pilot with 20/70 corrected to 20/20. I wonder if NAFTA applies to Canadians being shuttle pilots.

just another pilot · Post by **just another pilot** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:37 am

NASA is an equal opportunity employer

ahramin · Post by **ahramin** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:23 pm

The canadian military has the highest eye requirement for pilots in the world. But once you get accepted your eyes no longer need to meet those requirements.

I think NASA wants the best all round people or the job, and if your eyes are good enough, the statement speaks for itself. Our military might save some money on training if they did not have to flunk out so many perfect eyeball guys because they could not learn how to fly the airplane quickly enough.

ahramin

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:38 pm

ahramin wrote:The canadian military has the highest eye requirement for pilots in the world. But once you get accepted your eyes no longer need to meet those requirements.

Even after 3 years since finishing highschool, I still hate the military for throwing a wrench into my plans. Damn their eyesight requirements!

just another pilot · Post by **just another pilot** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:55 pm

Maybe the eye requirements are needed so they can assist in SAR of downed Sea Kings? Or maybe it is for the amount of reading they due instead of flying?

snowbear · Post by **snowbear** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 1:07 pm

I have been around long enough to remember the original National ads for Canada's first steps in the shutle program. The first and most major requirement was for the candidate to be bi-lingual. The rest of the reguirements, ie; pilots licence, advanced aeronautical degree, Masters of something, PHD in anything, were so far down the list it was a joke. We only went along for the ride.

SplitS · Post by **SplitS** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 8:09 am

Didnt the last one kinda fail its atmospheric re-entry test?

Yeah babay!! Let me fly something that was built by the absolute lowest bidder!!! Im there!!!

bootyshake

Tex · Post by **Tex** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 12:40 am

All US Military branches require 20/20 uncorrected for pilots [except possibly Army Helo drivers]; they did just began an expermental program that accepts corrective eye surgery, but only on a case by case basis. Your vision can get worse than 20/20 after you're in, but only to a certain point.

And yeah, that damn thing failed its last re-entry test quite badly; it woke me up when it tore apart, then dropped souviners all over my part of town. Lowest bid got that job done quite well...

MurtsAir · Post by **MurtsAir** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 11:35 am

Wanted Space Shuttle Pilot Min 5000 tt 1000 Rocket PIC will accept 2000 F/O rocket PPC an asset but not neccary must sign training bond of 2 million

DA900 · Post by **DA900** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 8:16 pm

Would a sandwich artist be considered secondary education from a accredited institution?

rotorfloat · Post by **rotorfloat** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 5:23 am

Sorry guys...position's filled. Rotorfloat, desperate to get into any seat on the shuttle, has offered to pay for his own PPC and work for nothing afterwards. They jumped at it.

None of the other astronauts will talk to me though...