Navy/USMC and NASA

[Harabek]

I have been searching, and I am fairly sure that noone else has asked this question...or maybe its just a stupid one.

I know that the Marines have a different mission from the airforce but I was wondering what are the odds of a marine corps pilot being succesful with NASA?

Basically, does NASA prefer Air Force guys over Naval and Marine Aviators? I've gone to the NASA information sites, but they do not provide enough information.

 

[Whalebite]

Airforce Navy and Marines have been astronauts. NASA cares about the following: Jet time, science/math/engineering backround. They prefer test pilot school.

 

[Physicx]

If you look under bios you will see what service they come from.The Marines usually are Topgun and WIT grads and of course test pilots.Anybody know how competive is TPS is?

 

[Schnugg]

Do you mean.....What % of Marines get Shuttles?.....

 

[squeeze]

Do you mean.....What % of Marines get Shuttles?.....

awesome

 

[Grant]

Do you mean.....What % of Marines get Shuttles?.....

Hahaha.

 

[lizardz43]

Like Physicx said, check out the NASA astronaut bios site and you will see that candidates are selected from each branch of the military. There have been fewer Marines selected, but then again it is the smallest branch. From what I can tell, it is fairly representative. Check out this link and download the pdf file at the bottom of the page--it goes over some of the requirements for Marine astronaut selection.
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/marinereg/blmco3700-3a.htm

 

[Harabek]

Thanx

Thanks for the information, that was really helpful!

 

[Brett327]

Well, just off the top of my head:

Alan Shepard, first American in space - Naval Aviator
John Glenn, first to orbit - Naval Aviator (USMC)
Wally Schirra - Mercury, Gemini and Apollo - Naval Aviator
Neil Armstrong - Naval Aviator
Jim Lovell, first to orbit the moon, Apollo 13 - Naval Aviator

Skip a few decades

Willie McCool, final Columbia crew - Prowler Pilot and fellow VAQ-133 Alum.

Brett

 

[skidkid]

Gerneral Bolden flew a bunch of shuttle missions as PIC

 

[ChuckMK23]

Well, just off the top of my head:

Alan Shepard, first American in space - Naval Aviator
John Glenn, first to orbit - Naval Aviator (USMC)
Wally Schirra - Mercury, Gemini and Apollo - Naval Aviator
Neil Armstrong - Naval Aviator
Jim Lovell, first to orbit the moon, Apollo 13 - Naval Aviator

Skip a few decades

Willie McCool, final Columbia crew - Prowler Pilot and fellow VAQ-133 Alum.

Brett

Neil Armstrong was NOT a Naval Aviator...he was prior USAF then civ test pilot for NACA/NASA on X-15 program

 

[phrogdriver]

Don't forget, even though tacair time is required for the pilot/cmdr slots, mission specialists can come from any background. I know of two CH-46 (1 USN, 1 USMC) pilots who became mission specialists. Obviously you need a pretty strong science background.

 

[Brett327]

Neil Armstrong was NOT a Naval Aviator...he was prior USAF then civ test pilot for NACA/NASA on X-15 program

Neil Armstrong, Naval Aviator 1949-52 right off NASA's website:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/bios/neilabio.html

Brett

 

[Grant]

I hate to encourage goofy topics like this, but...

Are astronauts still considered on active duty while with NASA (since its a civilian administration), and can they go back to a "normal" unit when done with NASA? Does anyone ever do that? I'd imagine that having NASA on your resume would make you a shoe-in for becoming a General/Admiral down the road...

 

[skidkid]

Gen Bolden went from NASA to Wing CG so yes it does happen. He did if I remember right spend a lot of time at NASA and didnt get to command a squadron so there are trade offs