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Astronaut Possibilities?
- Thread starter buckup
- Start date
BurghGuy
Master your ego, and you own your destiny.
staff said:
Well, from a guy who's 23 and has been wanting to be an astronaut "since he was 5", start NOW. The selection process to be a space man is long one. Get yourself into a service branch, get commissioned and get a pilot slot ASAP. You'll have your hands full just with that. People have always told me that being an astronaut is just a boyhood dream, but now that I'm actually trying to achieve it, I realize that even if it doesn't work out, I still get to do more than most people do (i.e. Navy pilot... or so I still hope... still in flight school). So best of luck to you.
Also, phrog, I haven't heard much news lately about it, but the shuttle will be retired in 2010, like you said, but a manned flight to the moon is penciled in for 2018. Sure, they'll definitely be setbacks and cancelations alike, as always with everything NASA, but to a guy who's 20 years old and just starting his career, earning an astro slot in, say, 10-13 years for a manned flight is at least possible.
So like I said before, if you want it, go for it. Even if you don't get astro, you'll still have a great time doing it.
What about NASA test pilots? Are they all civilians, or are they liasoned Navy, USMC, and USAF pilots and FO's? How do you apply?
If you really want to know the history behind who gets selected from where you can just look at the astronaut bio's. It will tell what branch they came from or if they were civilian, etc...most of them have degrees and professional titles comming out of the dupa. But just because they might have come from these certain areas, doesn't mean that thats the only place where they will comtinue to select from...maybe though
AllAmerican75 said:
I know that at least some of them are civilian, and I'm tempted to say that all of them are, simply because I've never heard of an active-duty test pilot being assigned to NASA.
I wouldn't say that any service has an "edge" as far as astronaut selection. As far as shuttle pilot is concerned, they have to have a jet background as a prerequisite. The Air Force has a higher proportion of those, so that may be a factor if being an astronaut pilot is your goal.
As far as mission specialist, they want advanced degrees in the sciences. There are programs for those in the USN and USMC, and I know of at least one mission specialist from each (both CH-46 pilots, BTW). However, the USAF is way bigger on promoting advanced degrees for its officers, so on that basis I would speculate that they may have an edge there as well. Note that I'm not saying the service itself gives an edge, only that the USAF might give more opportunity for an applicant to get the prerequisites for selection.
Active duty test pilots assigned as test pilots only. I have always wondered how that worked because I have heard of some test pilots who are with NASA referred to by pay grade and branch of service. Whether or not they were retired while they were NASA test pilots, I can't tell you.
staff said:
By promoting, I meant that the USAF strongly encourages a master's in order to advance past major and provides opportunities to pursue one. The Navy is heading that way to some degree, but the Marine Corps (in spite of a strong PME committment) doesn't care too much at all about degrees.
phrogdriver said:
Agree that USAF not only strongly encourages, but USAF types are desperate to get their Masters before O-4 because not having one is viewed as reason not to get promoted. They seem to me to have a culture of conformity and getting blocks checked thoroughout their careers...need service schools and certain number of hours by certain gates. Agree that Navy and Marines don't have that level of pressure. Sustained performance seems to kep you competitive in the Sea Services.
heyjoe said:
Things are changing my friend. The AF doesn't necessarily require a masters but at least your JPME 1. For YG94 or 95 and above, the Navy will now require the JMPE 1 or masters to select for O-5 as well. I'm working on mine right now but I'm not sure I will finish it before my board next year. I'm YG93 but whatever helps. I would like to retire as an O-5.