Job Opening - Astronaut

[Catmando]

I once applied long ago in AOCS, as did most of us. But with a Business degree and no flight time I was not surprised to never hear anything back. (About the same response for my perenial dream sheets to the detailer to be Naval Attache, Sweden too.)

Nevertheless.........

"The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a need for Astronaut Candidates to support the International Space Station (ISS) Program and future deep space exploration activities."​

LINKY

 

[CumminsPilot]

The things that dreams are made of...

 

[MasterBates]

I applied.

 

[Catmando]

Once in the fleet, I liked what I was doing. By then I had no interest (and obviously, absolutely no chance) at the astronaut program.​

But I was surprised by a number of guys I served with who were in fact selected, and just disappeared from the squadron or airwing in the middle of their tour. Indeed when I joined my second squadron on cruise, my new stateroom mate suddenly left after a few weeks to be an astronaut. He later was mission commander on a few shuttle missions.​

The Navy is very well represented in the Astronaut Corps.​

 

[phrogdriver]

Unfortunately, the space program now needs nerds more than pilots. Now that the Russians are now our chauffeurs for the next 10-15 years, that trend will only get worse.

I'm hoping Virgin Galactic will see things my way someday soon.

 

[Catmando]

Unfortunately, the space program now needs nerds more than pilots. ....

Always did! ... Although some real pilots did slip through in the early days.

 

[cfam]

Looks like fun, but with a history degree and not being a pilot I see my chances as minuscule. Does any of the older crowd know of any NFOs who've been accepted?

 

[Catmando]

Does any of the older crowd know of any NFOs who've been accepted?

I think there were a number of them. Indeed my old stateroom mate RIO was one.
LINK

 

[MattWSU]

Frequent travel may be required

Deal breaker.

 

[yak52driver]

Back when I worked at JSC on space station software I put my application in for mission specialist, along with about 8,000 other folks. Back then they were looking for PhD's in materials processing and doctors. CompSci guys weren't cutting it, but at least I gave it a shot. Not related to applying, I did get to fly one of the fixed base shuttle sims while I was there, which was cool.

 

[Uncle Fester]

I think there were a number of them. Indeed my old stateroom mate RIO was one.
LINK

Now that's a glorious 'stache.

 

[MIDNJAC]

After having done an undergrad engineering test program when I was in college, for a few weeks down at Ellington and JSC, I would have to say that the level of douchenozzleness is QUITE high around NASA spaces......the astronauts we met (including the middle man in the diaper kidnapping scandal) were all cool enough guys, but I think everyone else would make me gouge my eyes out if that were my place of work. Not that I would ever have a shot there, nor would I really want one.

 

[picklesuit]

So where were the qualifications for Space Shuttle Door Gunner? Nothing about weapons specialist? Boring...

 

[Flash]

I think there were a number of them. Indeed my old stateroom mate RIO was one.
LINK

This NFO was an astronaut too.

 

[draad]

I wonder about the 1000 hours of jet aircraft. I mean...do military jet pilots have to have same 1000 hours that a jet airline pilot has? I doubt 3 years in a squadron counts as "related, progressively responsible, professional experience"....