#Nasa careers astronaut qualifications professional

Teaching experience, including experience at the K - 12 levels, is considered to be qualifying experience.Ĭandidates must have the ability to pass the NASA long-duration space flight physical, which includes the following specific requirements: An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for experience (master's degree = 1 year or a doctoral degree = 3 years).

#Nasa careers astronaut qualifications professional

The degree must be followed by at least three years of related, progressively responsible, professional experience (graduate work or studies) or at least 1,000 pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Ĭandidates must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. There are three broad categories of qualifications: education, work experience, and medical. Astronaut candidates have ranged between the ages of 26 and 46, with the average age being 34. There are no age restrictions for the NASA Astronaut Corps. Military astronauts are detailed to the Johnson Space Center and remain in an active duty status for pay, benefits, leave, and other similar military matters. As of 2015, astronauts based out of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas would earn between $66,026 (GS-11 step 1) and $158,700 (GS-15 step 8 and above). Astronauts can be promoted up to grade GS-15. The grade is determined in accordance with each individual's academic achievements and experience. Federal Government's General Schedule pay scale for grades GS-11 through GS-14. Salaries for newly hired civilian astronauts are based upon the U.S. The current Chief Astronaut is Christopher Cassidy. The first Chief Astronaut was Deke Slayton, appointed in 1962. The Chief Astronaut serves as head of the Corps and is the principal adviser to the NASA Administrator on astronaut training and operations. The Chief of the Astronaut Office is the most senior leadership position for active astronauts in the Corps.

Johnson Space Center in Houston, although members may be assigned to other locations based on mission requirements, e.g. The Astronaut Corps is based at the Lyndon B. Including the “Original Seven”, only 339 candidates have been selected to date. From the thousands of applications received, only a few are chosen for the intensive Astronaut Candidate training program. NASA selects candidates from a diverse pool of applicants with a wide variety of backgrounds. As of the 2009 Astronaut Class 61% of the astronauts selected by NASA have come from military service. Since then, NASA has selected 20 more groups of astronauts, opening the corps to civilians, scientists, doctors, engineers, and school teachers. After stringent screening, NASA announced its selection of the ' Mercury Seven' as its first astronauts. The military services were asked to provide a list of military test pilots who met specific qualifications. astronaut candidates were selected by NASA in 1959, for its Project Mercury with the objective of orbiting astronauts around the Earth in single-man capsules. However, this excludes degrees such as nursing, psychology, exercise, physiology, or social sciences.įor more details, go to /astronauts.īefore going to space, you will be required to participate in a two-year training programme.Īt the end of the training programme, you will then be able to do the spacewalks, launch to space, fly in jets, while being in the best physical condition.Īfter all of your training, you will then be able to launch your career as an astronaut.The first U.S. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) requires that their astronauts have a Master's Qualification in these disciplines.

In addition, you need to be an individual that is able to adapt well as you will move from one task to another, work with astronauts from other countries and you will be required to change routines due to new procedures that you will be exposed to.Īstronauts have a set of skills in technology and science, obtained from Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academic qualifications from accredited institutions of higher learning. Hence, to be an astronaut you need to be mentally and physically fit. Being more than a couple of kilometers away from familiar surroundings, for months it is not easy.