The whole class– let’s see how many they’ll have in that class. Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut? And I just don’t mean like a little kid– I want to be an astronaut, and veterinarian, and a firefighter kind of way– but actually thought about it as a real job option? Well, this week NASA opened job applications for a new class of astronaut candidates. Applicants with just a STEM bachelor’s degree may also be considered-if they’re also a certified test pilot or currently in test pilot school.įrank Rubio, a NASA astronaut who completed the most recent previous selection program in 2017, joins Ira to talk about what other qualities are valuable in an astronaut applicant-and the training program for those accepted.Īre you ready to apply? Check out the job listing ! How do you know if you have the ‘right stuff’ to apply? First, you’ll need a master’s degree or higher in some sort of STEM field, or two years in a doctoral program, or an M.D.
Job duties would include “ conducting operations in space, including on the International Space Station (ISS) and in the development and testing of future spacecraft” and “performing extravehicular activities (EVA) and robotics operations using the remote manipulator system.” Please note that “substantial travel” is required. It’s a full-time position based in Houston, Texas, paying over $104,000 per year. This week, NASA opened applications for a new class of astronaut candidates. If you’ve ever considered being an astronaut, this might be your chance to land that dream job. They need to be prepared to respond to a variety of possible circumstances.Want to be an astronaut? NASA is currently looking for candidates! Credit: NASA/Designed by Lauren Young To ensure their safety while in flight, astronauts also learn to adjust to changes in air pressure and extreme heat and observe their physical and psychological reactions to these changes. Laboratory work will include work in space flight simulators during which many of the actual characteristics of space flight are simulated along with some of the emergencies that may occur in flight. Astronauts who are pilots maintain their flight proficiency by flying 15 hours per month.Īstronaut training includes instruction in all aspects of space flight and consists of classroom instruction in astronomy, astrophysics, meteorology, star navigation, communications, computer theory, rocket engines and fuels, orbital mechanics, heat transfer, and space medicine. During this time, they participate in the basic astronaut candidate training program, which includes military water survival training, space walk training (which requires SCUBA certificate beforehand), swimming tests, exposure to high and low atmospheric pressures in altitude chambers, exposure to the microgravity of space flight in modified jet aircraft, extravehicular activity skills training, International Space Station systems training, robotics skills training, aircraft flight readiness training, and Russian language training. citizenship, a minimum of a bachelor's degree in engineering, biological or physical science, or mathematics, and work experience.Īstronaut candidates undergo a training and evaluation period that lasts about two years. Postsecondary TrainingĪny adult man or woman in excellent physical condition who meets the basic qualifications can be selected to enter astronaut training, according to NASA. Earning the best possible score on standardized tests (ACT or SAT) will also help you get into a good college program. Preparing to get into a good college is important, because NASA takes into consideration the caliber of a college program when accepting astronaut candidates. Although this training is provided to astronaut candidates, it wouldn’t hurt to take Russian if it is available. NASA requires its astronauts to be proficient in Russian in order to work with Russian astronauts (or “cosmonauts” as they are known in Russia) on the International Space Station. Other important classes include computer science, English, and speech. High school students interested in a career as an astronaut should follow a regular college preparatory curriculum in high school but should endeavor to take as much work as possible in mathematics and science (biology, chemistry, physics).
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