can you even imagine becoming an astronaut?

Question

im just a private pilot. but im wondering what the whole process is like to becoming an astronaut. is some of it just luck? what the hell would the application look like? and the interview, what would that be like? what would an average day at work be like? its like "daddy come to my baseball game", "sorry i gotta go too space." while im on the space subject when do you think we will go to mars or the moon soon and are we developing technologies to destroy asteroids?

Answer 1

It's funny, I read the line: "technologies to destroy asteroids" and was about to say: "I think it's time to put the Armageddon DVD back in the box and on the shelf dude."

But then I thought - even though the possibility of an asteroid or meteor or comet colliding with Earth is extremely slim, I'm guessing the fact that it's even possible would be enough for someone to be getting paid to research a solution, somewhere in the world. Will it involve sending deep-sea oil miners up to 'land' on it? I doubt it. But yeah, I reckon there's someone in the world busily working at it. Probably not getting as much money as the US Military is getting to spread the word of Democracy to the middle east (one laser guided bomb at a time), but a budget nonetheless.

As for the first part of your question, well, it's a pretty broad question/s. Take a look at other people who've become astronauts. They sent a geologist to the moon - obviously he just had to complete some physical training, but it's not like he was preparing his whole life for the experience. They put a school teacher up in a space shuttle - the first civillian in the shuttle. That didn't go well for her unfortunately, but she also wasn't preparing her whole life for it. A few millionaires have spent some time up in MIR before it burned up too - though I don't know if you could officially call them Astronauts, or Cosmonauts either mind you. Just rich people who wanna experience long term zero-G.

Overall, being an Astronaut would be a pretty cool job if you could be guaranteed of getting lots of misisons in. But these days space flight seems to be 'falling off the radar' so to speak, given there are so many problems in the world that people - in general - don't see space flight as a necessity. It gets a bit political then - since NASA and ESA can only survive with government funding. Maybe China is the place to go for becoming a ... Taikonaut (I think that's the official term). They're the people who are going to be doing all the global spending in the future. They might even be the first ones heading to Mars. Maybe give them a holler? Of course, it might be the case that instead of "Daddy, come to my baseball game" it's "Daddy, come to the factory I make toys/handbags/machinery in."

Answer 2

Yes. I grew up with the space program. I remember when Alan Shepard was first launched on the first Mercury flight. I was 5 years old and was glued to the TV (3 channels, black and white!). From that moment on I wanted to be an astronaut. That dream ended at the county fair a couple years later when I threw up my chili dog and cotton candy after a ride in the Tilt-A-Whirl!!

Answer 3

The only way I'll become an astronaut is if I win big in the lottery then pay my $20 million for a trip to the ISS.

Answer 4

I've tried imagining it but it wouldn't be very fun for me. I'm claustrophobic. Big time. I'd probably have a horrible panic attack and kill myself or something. And I hear the training is very long and intense. I suppose it would have to be if you plan on spending weeks and even months in space.

Answer 5

You can be an "astronaut" for years, and never make it into space. The secret behind it is, study, preparation, and attitude.

Answer 6

No I canot imagine being an Astronaut.