How does one join NASA and become an astronaut?

Question

The steps, requirements, ect.

Answer 1

From my own experience, having a brother in law who works there it goes a lot like this. Join the military. Have an advanced degree aeronautical engineering, or astrophysics. Complete pilot school. Compete for and get a position at the test flight center. Complete test pilot training. Be a test pilot, get selected for astronaut corps. That is one way and only takes about 15-18 years. Another is to be a civilian scientist so good that you outshine all others and are drafted and trained. That process may only take 18-20 years. So it is relatively easy.

Answer 2

Probably not. If you are able to get hired by NASA, then make it into the astronaut program (which is difficult), your opportunity to get to the moon was killed in February of 2010 when plans for those missions were canceled in favor of Near Earth Object and Mars exploration.

Answer 3

The source is the NASA Astronaut Candidate Brochure.

Basic qualifications listed below, but all successful candidate far exceed these minimums. For example, the minimum education is a Bachelor's degree, but most astronauts have a PhD, and many have several PhDs.

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 of experience, doctoral degree = 3 years of experience). Quality of academic preparation is important.

2. Ability to pass a NASA space physical, which is similar to a military or civilian flight physical and includes the following specific standards:

o Distance visual acuity: 20/200 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, each eye.

o Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in a 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. An advanced degree is desirable. Quality of academic preparation is important.

2. At least 1,000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Flight test experience is highly desirable.

3. Ability to pass a NASA space physical which is similar to a military or civilian flight physical and includes the following specific standards:

o Distant visual acuity: 20/100 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 each eye.

o Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in a sitting position.

o Height between 64 and 76 inches.

Answer 4

Go to www.nasa.gov and look around the navigation bars. They have a set of pages that gives a complete and detailed description of the requirements and the process for getting accepted into astronaut training.

It isn't easy, and it's highly competitive, so have a Plan B that you really like. And good luck!

Answer 5

well many many astronauts started their careers as pilots in the airforce. the other good way to get into nasa would be to get involved with some sort of field of science that would be helpful to them as an astronaut (gravitational effects etc.) to the best of my knowledge, you apply to the astronaut training program, and if you are accepted, they will train you and shoot you into space. I spoke with a guy that had applied and applied and applied as some sort of scientist, and they finally accepted him and sent him into space. it was a neat story. good luck. you can do it if you want to!

Answer 6

Make top grades, get Astrophysics and Aeronautics "whupped" in college. Join the Air Force while you're at it. Be an exemplary role model for the "right stuff". There will be a mile-long line for a few dozen positions. To go to the head of that line, excel in everything you undertake.

Answer 7

One way is to join the Army and go into satellite communications.

After AIT, if you graduate at the top of your class, you get assigned to NASA.

Then it is up to what you do at NASA to become an astronaut.

Answer 8

Well, one of the requirements is to chug a quart of Jack Daniels in under 30 seconds... is that the kind of answer you are looking for, Mr. Joker?

Answer 9

You generally have to be a Navy or Air Force Pilot with EXTEREMLY good health, good education, high rank and you apply.

Answer 10

I don't know much but from what I know it takes a degree in Astrophysics,fitness and you have to be in the American Airforce.