Breakout of NASA Astronaut Corps by service affiliation

[PropAddict]

Where does this 1,000 jet hours requirement come from? This is the first I've heard of it, so I'm just curious.

And I remember not so long ago when NASA was not taking ANY jet guys into the astronaut program office. Something about moving to longer duration missions and not wanting 3 or 4 Type A's living in a confined space for months at a time.

Also, as an aside, the first direct-select astronaut is at Whiting right now. He has a doctorate in something like theoretical astrophysics and once he gets his wings, he has follow on orders to Houston.

 

[nzachman]

Astronaut Candidate (Piloting background)

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. An advanced degree is desirable. Quality of academic preparation is important.
2. At least 1,000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Flight test experience is highly desirable.
3. Ability to pass the NASA long-duration space flight physical which includes the following specific requirements:
   
   Distant visual acuity: Must be correctable to 20/20, each eye
   
   (NOTE: For those applicants under final consideration, additional visual screening will be performed to include the following standards: refractive error (distant vision)-cycloplegic refractive error must be between +3.50 and -4.00 diopters in any meridian. Astigmatism may require up to 2.00 diopters of cylinder correction. Anisometropia of up to 2.50 diopters. You are not required to provide this information with your initial application. We will request it later if needed.)
   
   Near visual acuity: Must be correctable to 20/20 each eye
   
   The refractive surgical procedures of the eye, PRK and LASIK, are now allowed, providing at least 1 year has passed since the date of the procedure with no permanent adverse after effects. For those applicants under final consideration, an operative report on the surgical procedure will be requested.
   
   Blood pressure not to exceed 140/90 measured in a sitting position
   
   Standing height between 62 and 75 inches

Straight from the NASA astronaut selection website. Refer to item #2

 

[PropAddict]

^^ Very well. I suppose that's why so many astronaut wanna-be's push for jets then TPS. And here I just thought it was tradition.

 

[eddie]

And I remember not so long ago when NASA was not taking ANY jet guys into the astronaut program office. Something about moving to longer duration missions and not wanting 3 or 4 Type A's living in a confined space for months at a time.

I think it has more to do with cutting down on the program and plenty of pilots "in the system" to do the actual "flying."


And just to clarify, Active Duty Mission Specialists (not Pilots) do not have to go to TPS. They just have to be smart / educated / in a mission-critical field.

Payload Specialists, now that is a different story all together I'm discovering! Those guys are practically part-time / degree not technically required!!!!
(I think that's the gig I'm aiming for now...)

 

[HackerF15E]

I'll do it.

May not get to it until tonight, but I've parsed this data once before in a kind of, "what percentage get jets, leave active duty, get a PhD, become astronauts" search. It's like one or two people.

Be that as it may, the question that this thread is looking at is this one:

There's a reason why, when it came to military pilots, most astronauts were/are Naval Aviators, and NOT AF Pilots.

 

[BACONATOR]

I love how a tongue-in-cheek comment turned into a whole new thread split and serious debate. It was just some run-of-the-mill average ascot-bashing, folks!

 

[MasterBates]

Damn this 1000 hour crap. I'll have about 110, and no chance to get more.

If I can't drive, I'm not going!

 

[VetteMuscle427]

Damn this 1000 hour crap. I'll have about 110, and no chance to get more.

If I can't drive, I'm not going!

75" max height. You're not going anywhere... ogre.

 

[MasterBates]

I'm down to that now. The wonders of crashing.

 

[AJB37]

I'm down to that now. The wonders of crashing.

Hmm, seems I have to go get myself into a little crash then... damn my long legs...

 

[Beans]

Now that we're going back to "falling brick" rather than "flying brick" space vehicles, perhaps those requirements will change. Not that they were any different in the 50s-60s...

 

[Oh-58Ddriver]

Pilots dont do space walks - just mission specialists. I just got selected by the Army board, who weeds out candidates and sends them to NASA. If I at least get an interview with NASA, I will be pleased. I haven't heard of anyone getting selected without having to apply at least 2-3 times. Collective fingers crossed, please.

 

[raptor10]

Fingers in the crossed and locked position

 

[Flash]

As others have noted here, NASA Shuttle pilots have to have jet experience. And only Shuttle pilots can be Shuttle commanders. This might change with the Shuttle being retired, but I imagine that the 'pilot' for the new craft will still be pilots.

You can be selected as an astronaut and not be a jet pilot, but you will be a mission specialist, like OH-58Driver will be if selected. They have selected almost every stripe of pilot; for example, they like helo pilots for the robot arm.

A lot fo this info I got from one of my RAG classmates, he was a shuttle simulator instructor in his previous life.

Scott Carpenter was from the VP community. His jet time came from his Test pilot experience.

And after his his sole mission, Aurora 7, Chris Kraft swore that he would never fly again. There is still controversy about the mission.

 

[Blutonski816]

And after his his sole mission, Aurora 7, Chris Kraft swore that he would never fly again. There is still controversy about the mission.

Yep, most people believed he got carried away with the sightseeing in orbit, buring up fuel; that and a way off target splashdown contributed to him being quietley ushered out of the Astronaut Corps.

It's funny to see the Kraft's publicized statement from 1962 regarding the flight, "the most successful to date; everything had gone perfectly except for some overexpenditure of fuel" vs his more private opinion.