Best path to take to become an astronaut?

[Sonog]

Go for it man. Worst that happens is that you wind up with an awesome degree or end up flying awesome machines of death and destruction.

As for the G's or fear of flying or whatever, unless your genetics are jacked up its all probably mind over matter so go to your local amusement park, throw in a big dip of copenhagen and start riding the rides until you puke your guts out. You'll either get over it or be scarred for life. YMMV, this is probably awful advice, don't listen to me. Or do. Point is we've all been there with big dreams and wasted so much time and effort "worrying" about the "what ifs" if we don't make it. Kick ass at everything you do, strive to your goals, and don't close any doors or burn any bridges.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Also, even civilian 'strohs will have to pull Gs, ride the centrifuge

To be fair, pretty sure the astronauts of the Shuttle era did a max of 3G (orbiter structural limits) and did that while laying on their backs. So not really what most of us did during our centrifuge rides for Navy FW aircraft. I'm sure that could change, but that was what the folks @ the Wyle centrifuge told us during my most recent ride last year.

 

[Renegade One]

Also, even civilian 'strohs will have to pull Gs, ride the centrifuge, and be subjected to a wide assortment of vestibular and somatosensory discomforts both in training and in the work itself.

You had me at "somatosensory"...

 

[Flash]

To be fair, pretty sure the astronauts of the Shuttle era did a max of 3G (orbiter structural limits) and did that while laying on their backs. So not really what most of us did during our centrifuge rides for Navy FW aircraft. I'm sure that could change, but that was what the folks @ the Wyle centrifuge told us during my most recent ride last year.

They still do a significant amount of training in the T-38 though, enough so that NASA is retaining its fleet after an extensive outside review whether they should or not.

 

[Hopeful Hoya]

If you want a great book about what it takes to get there, read Riding Rockets by Col. Mike Mullane. Although his info would be a little dated (he was selected in the 1978 Astronaut Group) a lot of it is still applicable and he gives a hilarious but at the same time sobering look into the life of a military aviator and astronaut.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Graduating from Purdue has been a common denominator among many Astronauts in NASA - so aspirationally you are off to a good start. Also, some of the Navy's most successful Astronauts have been helicopter pilots, (and even a '46 driver).

Graduate college, gain a commission through any number of officer accession paths, become a rated pilot in something - those are your first "to-do"'s.

 

[picklesuit]

Do we have any NASA guys on AW's? I know we have a U-2 guy, an Admiral, and the occasional P-3 driver...any OV drivers?

 

[Renegade One]

...Also, some of the Navy's most successful Astronauts have been helicopter pilots, (and even a '46 driver).

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but how do you define "successful astronaut"? Most number of days in space? Most space missions? Number of hatches that "just blew" <1?

 

[MIDNJAC]

They still do a significant amount of training in the T-38 though, enough so that NASA is retaining its fleet after an extensive outside review whether they should or not.

True, and I was just talking to the centrifuge specifically. I wonder how often the MS/PS's backseat in the -38, if they have currency requirements, or if it is personal preference.

 

[Flash]

True, and I was just talking to the centrifuge specifically. I wonder how often the MS/PS's backseat in the -38, if they have currency requirements, or if it is personal preference.

There was a recent outside review if NASA should retain their T-38's and their value in training MS's was cited several times in the report, with the speed and realism of practicing procedures in the aircraft noted by several MS's in helping deal with real emergencies. So apparently it is part of the training curriculum for MS's, how much I don't know.

 

[Fallonflyr]

Being born about 50 years ago.

 

[jmcquate]

I worked at JSC in the mid 90s. The centrifuge was long gone (the centrifuge building housed the 0g training facility, aka great big pool). I got to spend a lot of time at Ellington Field working with maintenance records and the T-38 ramp was a busy place. They were used to keep the pilots/mission commanders proficient and the MS to learn how to perform in a military crew environment. They were also how the crews shuttled back and forth between Houston, the Cape and Huntsville.

 

[pilot_man]

1. Know Russian
2. Have a degree in StEM.
3. Be comfortable being uncomfortable

Your best bet is to be a Naval Aviator and go to TPS. Baby steps first but it's good to have a plan.

 

[Deleted user cNaut]

Sounds good, thanks for all the advice/insight guys. I really appreciate it. Yeah, I realize that manning up and just exposing myself to some high Gs will be my biggest problem, but I'm willing to do it. I'll probably take some flying lessons this summer and get LASIK in a matter of 2 years. Also, forgot to mention, that I'm fluent in Russian (reading/writing as well) as my dad was from the former Soviet Union haha (he was part of the Soviet Air Force).

 

[Beans]

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but how do you define "successful astronaut"? Most number of days in space? Most space missions? Number of hatches that "just blew" <1?

Too soon...