What are the qualities and qualifications to become an astronaut at NASA?

Question

I desire to become an astronaut when i grow up.I am in class 10th.I need to know what fields i need to stress.

Answer 1

apart from being a top class jet pilot priyanka, you need to fulfill some essential requirements of nasa such as being able to live on waterless food for days, being able to work out for a minimum 4 hrs at a stretch, being mentally very very sound (i'll admit some of us get even a bit angry at the smallest provocation). they test you under extremes of psychological stress if you can take sane and swift decisions under such conditions, and like this many other tests. one such is the g-force test. you've to wear a g-suit and sit belted inside a spherical cell. then they rotate you starting slowly first and moving upto 2 revs a sec to test your retaining your consciousness in that circular motion of extreme g stress. most testers pass out at 1.5 revs a sec but that is normal for a human being.

and of course, you do need an opportunity for taking up a pilot career (fighter pilot not commercial) in the u.s. i don't know about the qualifications required for that. you've to ask someone in the indian air force or from someone who has been or is in the u.s. like sunita williams. i've a pdf matter that nasa themselves sent my cousin here. it has some questions nasa asks you for taking up a career there as astronaut, flight controller, mission engineer, control technical manager, project director etc. ok, email me [e-mail] with your name, age, your special interests in physics, chemistry, biology and math, how much angry you get in a day and how often, how do you get along with your friends etc. if you truthfully answer these questions to me i'll mail you that pdf which i personally guarantee, will kindle such an interest in you that you won't have just a desire to become an astronaut but you'll be seeing in yourself an ever increasing ambition for that. meanwhile study excellent because you need to be an excellent (mind you excellent not just very good) student of physics, math, chemistry and biology as well for attaining the goal of becoming an astronaut.

and remember, the goal is difficult, the path even more, but the desire gives way to ambition which gives way to rage. so have a raging interest and aspire to attain and achieve the best.

all the best
baLaJi

Answer 2

For the time being, with the US space shuttle and the Russian Soyuz still the workhorses of the spaceflight programme, pilots will continue to play a central role. But designers are already working on fully automated spacecraft concepts.

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- Because space technologies are so sophisticated, mission specialists will probably remain vital, and indeed should even become increasingly important.
Future missions to explore our Solar System will be driven chiefly by scientific goals. For this reason, it would be inconceivable to send a crew to Mars, for example, without today’s equivalent of Harrison Schmitt.

So, you want to be an astronaut?
Successful astronaut candidates come from rich and varied backgrounds, but they are by no means supermen or superwomen. However, they do have to fulfil a certain number of minimum requirements. Candidates must be physically very fit, possess very good language skills, particularly in English and/or Russian, be emotionally stable and, if possible, have qualifications in a field of aeronautics.


Determination and motivation are the two outstanding qualities that all astronauts share. For every hour they may spend in space, they know they can expect to spend thousands of hours in training. That calls for exceptional dedication and commitment to what is certainly humankind’s greatest adventure: the conquest of space.

Answer 3

Yes. My own country, Canada, has had a number of our astronauts participate in NASA's training and missions. As far as I can tell, they are all treated as equals in the astronaut program. A number of other countries also train and work with NASA.

Answer 4

Grads with a degree in Mathematics are eligible to apply, so that is one avenue.

Answer 5

See the source for what it takes.

Answer 6

after completing your +2 study(aerospaceORaeronautical engineering ) for getting full information in space.

Answer 7

I asked this last week! http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=An5Swf.nrfmVVcrrwfhVc.Lsy6IX?qid=20070525130100AAj1BlW I hope you acheive your dreem and to see you in 10 years!

Best to you.