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Astronaut Possibilities?

buckup

Registered User
Naval Astronaut Program

Any of you current aviators (or even avid students or wannabes) know much about the Astronaut program? I know what the website says, but my specific question is whether TACAMO hours count as jet hours toward the program requirement?
 

Brodie143

Registered User
The Tacamo is a jet so I would say yes but it's just my opinion. I suspect that they are only talking about tactical jets since they ae faster and more agile. I would call Bupers and ask them. If you go as a mission specialist it would not matter. Also right now it appears that if you had eye surgery such as PRK (which the Navy allows) or Lasik (Which the navy does not allow), you are not qualified. I know most of the aviators that have applied to be astronauts have gone to Test Pilot School and have there masters degree as well. Those are things to think about as well.
 

Crowbar

New Member
None
USMC Astronaut candidate selections

For those of you who might be interested, the Marine Corps released the year's astronaut candidate selections this week. The numbers looked a little like this:

Pilot:
2 F/A-18 pilots

Mission Specialist:
5 F/A-18 pilots
4 F/A-18 WSOs
7 helo pilots
1 C-130 pilot
1 air control, 1 comm, 1 intel, 1 unspecified officer

Pilot and Mission Specialist:
5 F/A-18 pilots
6 AV-8B pilots
1 EA-6B pilot

This was released on the web (in a MARADMIN), so it's nothing secret or sensitive...
 

EA-6B1

PLC Jrs 1st Inc. Kilo-3
What kind of criteria do you have to meet to get accepted to the MC Astronaut thing?

"For he who serves his fellows, is among his fellows greatest."
- Meteu -
 

The Wiz

Registered User
Whats the likelyhood of a Marine actually being able to travel into space? I thought most of the astronauts were from the Air Force or even Navy.

"For He today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother" Henry V
 

Meridiani

Registered User
Uh, Wiz...haven't you ever heard of John Glenn?
tongue_125.gif


Most military astronauts are from the AF and Navy. Why? I'm gonna take an educated guess and say it's cuz they're larger services. USMC is smaller, so there are fewer Marine astronauts.
idea_125.gif
 

The Wiz

Registered User
Give me some credit, I know who John Glenn is. That was how long ago, not detracting from his acheivements, but my question was more focused on todays space program. And just because they are larger branches dosent mean their better than the Marine Corps Pilots.

"For He today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother" Henry V
 

Brodie143

Registered User
To answer part of your question from the Navy side of the house, the reason more Navy and Air Force guys get selected is that the majority of military astronauts are test pilots. The Navy and Air Force guys get more test pilot slots than the Marines, because both are much larger. Also of note, the next Astronaut class is only supposed to have 12 to 15 people. That includes civillians and the Military. I hope that helps.
 

The Wiz

Registered User
That Clarifies my question thanks.

"For He today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother" Henry V
 

The Wiz

Registered User
Yes he did fly into space just recently and he is and always will be a Marine, my point is that there is a hasnt been another Marine in space (other than John Glenn) in a while

"For He today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother" Henry V
 

airwinger

Member
pilot
Actually there have been a number of Marine Corps astronauts, while not as many nor as prominent as Navy they are there. In the hallways at TBS there is a wall dedicated to them and if I remember correctly there may have been about 10 of them. Apart from John Glenn, there was also General Bolden, and

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/zamka.html
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/sturckow.html
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/cabana.html
among the more current astronauts.
semper fi,
airwinger
 
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