What it takes to be a NASA astronaut
565 people from 41 nations have gone into space as of December 4, 2019. That is all there is to it. There are 565 of us on the earth now, out of a total population of over 7 billion. And it’s assuming that space travel is defined as any journey of more than 62 miles (about 100 kilometers).
Of course, many of these space travelers are NASA astronauts who use sophisticated scientific equipment like the popular Hubble space telescope. That they had to go through an extensive application and a rigorous training procedure.
What exactly does it take to be an astronaut?
You must be a U.S. citizen to be considered for the NASA astronaut program, though, dual citizenship is allowed.
Aside from that, NASA establishes three basic minimum standards for astronaut applicants. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, biology or physics, computer science, or mathematics. Second, you must have at least 1,000 hours of flying experience or three years of relevant professional experience. Teaching or getting a higher degree might be examples of work experience. Finally, you must be able to pass the NASA long-duration Astronaut physical examination.
You must be able to demonstrate 20/20 vision as part of the physical, even if you are wearing glasses or have undergone LASIK surgery.
Age
You might be surprised to find that there are no age restrictions for astronauts. (Of course, you must be at least 18 years old and capable of passing the physical.) The average age is between 26 and 46 years old.
At the age of 77, astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, returned to space as a payload specialist aboard the space shuttle Discovery. He took part in studies on the impact of microgravity on the aging body throughout the nine-day flight.
Physical
There is no specific physical type necessary to be an astronaut, but you must be able to fit inside the space suit that astronauts use to conduct spacewalks, known as the extravehicular mobility unit. Although it may seem self-evident, spacesuits have traditionally been built for males. NASA created extra-small and tiny versions of the men’s suit in the 1970s, but they still didn’t accommodate for the differences in body shapes that many women have, such as bigger hips and narrower shoulders. Budget cuts in the 1990s resulted in the abolition of the lesser sizes entirely.
NASA planned the first all-female spacewalk in March 2019, however the historic event had to be canceled due to a lack of spacesuits that could fit both ladies at the same time. The first all-female spacewalk occurred in October of that year, with astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch. There has yet to be a lady who has stepped on the Moon.
Is It Hard to Become an Astronaut?
Every four years or so, NASA hires new astronauts, and a large number of individuals apply. In 2013, 6,000 applicants sought to be astronauts, but only eight were chosen by NASA. And, despite the fact that 18,300 applicants applied for the 2017 class, just 12 were admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of less than 1%.
It takes a lot of hard work to become an astronaut. Even if NASA accepts your application, it will be some time before you leave the planet.
To begin, you must finish two years of fundamental instruction. This encompasses both physical activity and academic learning. Astronaut candidates study Russian in order to communicate with the Russian Mission Control Center and to gain knowledge of both spacecraft and the science involved in space stations.
Physical exams are also required of astronauts-in-training. They must complete a diver certification course and swim three laps in a pool while wearing a flight suit. They must also go through military land and sea survival training, which is crucial in an emergency.
Finally, trainees must practice in simulations to become familiar with high and low atmospheric pressures.
Space Exploration: Alternative Careers
Perhaps you want to work for NASA but aren’t interested in travelling to space. Perhaps the intense competition to become an astronaut is too much for you. The good news is that you can work on space travel without ever having to leave the planet.
To ensure that we get the most out of space exploration, NASA, research institutes, and colleges all recruit specialists for various tasks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 66,000 persons worked as aerospace engineers in 2019. For national security needs, these people develop and build spacecraft, as well as airplanes and missiles.
Atmospheric scientists also work in space, employing satellites and radar systems to investigate atmospheric events and climates. In 2019, around 10,000 people worked as atmospheric scientists.
Astronomy is another prominent career path, with 20,500 astronomers now employed. Astronomy is a fantastic area to pursue if you’re interested in studying ideas such as galaxies, planetary formation, star development, and dark matter hypothesis.
You might also look at jobs like plasma physicist, computer hardware engineer, electronics engineer, avionics technician, and meteorological technician, which are all relevant to space.
Although being an astronaut is difficult and not for everyone, if you have your heart set on space exploration, don’t allow the rigors of training deter you.