X

15 things you need to qualify for NASA's astronaut program (pictures)

NASA is officially looking for new space sailors. And the finalists may look very different from what you'd expect

Jefferson Reid
Jefferson Reid is a writer, author and editor who was worked for NBCUniversal, CBS, AOL, Yahoo! and many others.
Jefferson Reid
601194mainkc135-microgravity-training.jpg
1 of 15 NASA

Can you ride the vomit comet?

NASA is recruiting a fresh class of astronauts. The pay ranges from $66,000 to a little over $144,000. Applications have officially closed, but before the finalists get themselves fitted for space suits, they're going to need some pretty specific qualifications, including a cast-iron stomach.

Being strong is important, but having a strong gut is absolutely vital in weightless environments where "singing a rainbow" can cause real problems (in addition to being totally gross).

That's why all astronaut candidates must undergo microgravity training by flying roller-coaster missions in a specially equipped plane. Nicknamed the "vomit comet," it flies steeply up and down, so trainees experience about a half minute of weightlessness going over each hump. Stats: Each flight has 40 to 60 reps, and one in three trainees hurls during their first flight. Wheeeeee!

jsc2012e238476.jpg
2 of 15 NASA/Bill Stafford

Make like Aquaman

Astronaut candidates must be able to swim 75 meters without stopping. They also have to swim 75 more meters in a flight suit and tennis shoes, and also be able to tread water for 10 minutes in a flight suit. Whew!

The point is not merely to be emergency splashdown-ready, but also to get scuba qualified for underwater walks in faux weightless conditions. To aid the underwater cause, NASA has created the world's largest swimming pool, where astronauts practice spacewalk techniques and upcoming mission tasks on full-size ISS models.

iss036e006522.jpg
3 of 15 NASA

Handle the pressure

Not only must astronauts be mentally strong, they must also train to handle extreme physical pressure -- both hyperbaric (high) and hypobaric (low) -- in altitude-simulating chambers. It's an essential part of training for potential emergencies in space.

jsc2015e044668.jpg
4 of 15 NASA/Bill Stafford

Time to kill

If you want to joint the astro-elite, you'll need to dedicate at least two years to NASA's training program. Makes sense, given that you'll have to master countless technical processes and systems that make space travel possible.

Bureaucracy is also a factor. Candidates who apply by February 18, and successfully navigate the agency's exacting application and interview process, will be among the new hires announced in August 2017.

232663000649f2cd09beco.jpg
5 of 15 NASA

Sheepskin required

Higher education is important if you want to get way higher, as in blasted into Earth's orbit or beyond. Of course it's not just a matter of degrees, but a matter of which degree. You better bring at least a bachelor's degree in science, math or engineering, or you're guaranteed to remain terrestrial.

m15-033.jpg
6 of 15 NASA

Must learn Russian

The International Space Station is, well, international, so communicating with others, especially Russian cosmonauts, is key. Since the retirement of American space shuttles, Russian spacecraft have been our only option up into orbit. So you'd want our astronauts to be able to speak to mission control in Moscow or read the repair manual in a pinch, da? NASA trains candidates in Russian and they have to pass a proficiency test to graduate.

screen-shot-2016-01-25-at-11-06-38-am.png
7 of 15 NASA

Size matters

To reach the heights of space, mission specialists need to be between 58.5 inches and 76 inches tall. That rules out some jockeys and pro basketball players, but the vast majority of us can meet this standard. Pilots need to fit into a slightly smaller Goldilocks zone (between 5 feet, 2 inches and 6 feet tall) to reach all the important controls from the driver's seat.

iss037e006560.jpg
8 of 15 NASA

Oh say, can you see?

Astronaut candidates' vision must be 20/20, or at least 20/100 in each eye, and correctable to 20/20 with surgery. Passing the NASA flight physical also demands seated blood pressure of 140 over 90 or better. So lay off those fries and get in shape!

iss046e001924.jpg
9 of 15 NASA

Can you live on $66K to $144K?

No, 66K isn't the planet NASA is shipping you out to (yet). It's your paycheck, as in $66,000 a year to start. This being a government job, you probably didn't expect sky-high wages, right? The high end of the pay scale is $144,566 a year.

screen-shot-2016-01-25-at-11-02-22-am.png
10 of 15 NASA

A brain like a sponge

To excel as a candidate, your mind and body need to soak up and swiftly master a vast swath of highly technical and intricate information. That includes robotics skills training, aircraft flight readiness, International Space Station systems and advanced spacewalk training. Also, you'll get to know the deep-space Orion spacecraft now in development that will take astronauts to Mars and beyond.

screen-shot-2016-01-25-at-11-09-43-am.png
11 of 15 NASA

US passport

You've got to be an American to be an American astronaut. Who knew? You can also have dual citizenship. Fear not if you don't have a US passport. Citizens of other nations can also work their way all the way up by applying to the space agencies of our international partners in Canada, Japan, Russia, Brazil or Europe. See you up there.

screen-shot-2016-01-25-at-11-14-06-am.png
12 of 15 NASA

Know your way around a cockpit?

Contrary to popular belief, pilot experience is not required, but is highly desirable. If you're applying for a pilot position, however, then having at least 1,000 hours experience of flying jets is mandatory. Test-pilot experience is a huge turbo booster to your candidacy.

ksc-98ec-1392.jpg
13 of 15 NASA

Go ahead and be old

If you can pass the NASA flight physical, then you can become an astronaut candidate, regardless of age. Candidates have ranged in age from 26 to 46, with the current average being 34. In space, age is just a number as John Glenn clearly demonstrated. The first American to orbit Earth, Glenn later became the oldest man in space at 77.

screen-shot-2016-01-25-at-11-14-32-am.png
14 of 15 NASA

Have some life experience

In addition to physical and academic readiness, according to NASA you'll also need three years of "progressively responsible" related professional experience. Of course what counts as "related" and "progressively responsible" is up to your imagination or, at least, open to some interpretation. It could be advanced research, engineering, a doctorate degree or K-12 teaching experience.

screen-shot-2016-01-25-at-11-19-27-am.png
15 of 15 NASA

You have to beat the odds

When it comes to suiting up for NASA space travel, many are called, but few are called back. Of the 6,300 who applied in 2013, only eight became astronaut candidates. It's a super-elite crew, as NASA currently has only 43 active astronauts.

But things are looking up. There are "more human spacecraft in development in the United States today than at any other time in history," a NASA statement notes. "Future astronauts will launch once again from the Space Coast of Florida on American-made commercial spacecraft and carry out deep-space exploration missions that will advance a future human mission to Mars."

Roger that!

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos