Do you have the right stuff?

Got what it takes to become an astronaut? Here are the jobs and the requirements:

Commander/Pilot
The commander is the captain of the space shuttle and makes all the critical decisions on behalf of the crew and in coordination with the ground control team. The commander flies the shuttle during approach and landing, and is ready to take over from the computers and fly at all other times. Commanders fly at least once — usually twice — as shuttle pilots before they become commanders. The pilot is the commander’s backup and is trained to do all the same tasks as the commander. Both participate in experiments and on-orbit operations, with some limitations. For safety reasons, they are not allowed to take spacewalks, except in an emergency.

• Requires U.S. citizenship and at least a bachelor’s degree in
• At least 1,000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft; flight test experience is highly desirable
• Ability to pass a NASA Class I space physical, which is similar to a military or civilian Class I flight physical, and includes the following standards: vision-distance visual activity — 20/70 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 in each eye; blood pressure — 140/90 measured in a sitting position; and height between 64 and 76 inches

Mission Specialist
Mission specialists coordinate all onboard operations. They perform experiments, spacewalks and handle the payload.

• Requires U.S. citizenship and at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics
• Three years of related, progressively responsible professional experience must follow the degree. An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for all or part of the experience requirement (i.e., a master’s degree equals one year of work experience)
• Ability to pass a qualifying NASA Class II space physical, which is similar to a military or civilian Class II flight physical, and includes the following standards: vision-distance visual activity — 20/200 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 in each eye; blood pressure — 140/90 measured in a sitting position; and height between 58.5 and 76 inches

Payload Specialist
Payload specialists are professionals from the physical or life sciences field, or are highly skilled technicians who can operate shuttle payload equipment. Payload specialists are chosen from outside NASA by the payload sponsor or customer. Training for payload specialists may begin as many as two years ahead of the scheduled flight, depending on the task to be performed.

Although payload specialists aren’t part of the astronaut candidate program, they must have the appropriate education and training related to the payload or experiment. All applicants must meet certain physical requirements and must pass NASA space physical examinations with varying standards depending on classification.

— Capt. Christine L. Kunz

Next Feature »