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Astronaut selection

Astronaut selection is a months-long competitive process in which applicants are evaluated for admission as an astronaut candidate (ASCAN) in training for the manned spaceflight program. Due to the prohibitive cost of entry to orbit, the process has historically been limited to the purview of national governments, though this has recently changed with the advent of the commercial spaceflight industry.

To date, there have been 338 US astronauts selected to train in the program. Beginning with the Mercury Seven astronauts in the US, the initial candidates were limited to experienced military test pilots. Traditional requirements have called for individuals who are disciplined, methodical and well-established in their field, experienced with a broad range of technical skills and rigorous preparation, well-suited for adaptation to unknown environments, experienced engaging in activities that have a genuine mitigate risk and committing to a hazardous environment from which instantaneous disassociation is not possible.

Pilot astronaut requirements

US astronauts are employed as career civil servants in the federal government. US citizenship is mandatory. Pilot astronauts are required to hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, biological/physical sciences, or mathematics, with a minimum of 1,000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. For applicants intending to apply as pilot astronauts, NASA recommends test pilot experience. While it is theoretically possible to obtain these credentials without military experience, the majority of NASA pilot astronauts come from either the Air Force or the Navy. NASA physical requirements include the following metrics:

Distant visual acuity: 20/100 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 each eye
Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in a sitting position
Height between 62 and 75 inches

Mission control astronaut requirements

Mission control astronauts are required to have the same education as pilot astronauts: a bachelor’s degree in engineering, biological/physical sciences or mathematics, with the addition of at least three years of related, progressively responsible, professional experience in their selected field of study. Advanced education is highly recommended for both pilot and mission control astronauts, and can replace a portion of the three year work requirement. A masters degree equals one year of experience, whereas a doctoral degree imparts three years. Mission control applicants must also be able to pass a NASA space physical including the following:

Distance visual acuity: 20/200 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, each eye
Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in a sitting position
Height between 58.5 and 76 inches

Stages of the selection process

As candidates progress through the various stages of the selection process, they are sorted into different categories:

Qualified

(meeting minimum requirements)

Highly Qualified

(roughly 8% of candidates)

Extremely High-Qualified

(approximately 80 finalists selected for the final interview process)

External links

NASA Astronaut Selection

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