NASA Astronaut Corps

The NASA Astronaut Corps is a unit of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that selects, trains, and provides astronauts as crew members for U.S. and international space missions.

History

The first U.S. astronaut candidates were selected by NASA in 1959, for its Project Mercury with the objective of orbiting astronauts around the Earth in single-man capsules. The military services were asked to provide a list of military test pilots who met specific qualifications. After stringent screening, NASA announced its selection of the "Mercury Seven" as its first astronauts. Since then, NASA has selected 20 more groups of astronauts, opening the corps to civilians, scientists, doctors, engineers, and school teachers.

NASA selects candidates from a diverse pool of applicants with a wide variety of backgrounds. From the thousands of applications received, only a few are chosen for the intensive Astronaut Candidate training program. Including the “Original Seven”, only 339 candidates have been selected to date.

Organization

The Astronaut Corps is based at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, although members may be assigned to other locations based on mission requirements, e.g. Soyuz training at Star City, Russia.

The Chief of the Astronaut Office is the most senior leadership position for active astronauts in the Corps. The Chief Astronaut serves as head of the Corps and is the principal adviser to the NASA Administrator on astronaut training and operations. The first Chief Astronaut was Deke Slayton, appointed in 1962. The current Chief Astronaut is Peggy Whitson, the first woman to hold the position. She is assisted by Rick Sturckow as Deputy Chief Astronaut.

Salary

Salaries for civilian astronauts are based upon the U.S. Federal Government's General Schedule pay scale for grades GS-11 through GS-14. The grade is determined in accordance with each individual's academic achievements and experience. Currently a GS-11 starts at $64,724 per year and a GS-14 can earn up to $141,715 per year.

Military astronauts are detailed to the Johnson Space Center and remain in an active duty status for pay, benefits, leave, and other similar military matters.

Qualifications

There are no age restrictions for the NASA Astronaut Corps. Astronaut candidates have ranged between the ages of 26 and 46, with the average age being 34.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens to apply for the program, applicants with valid U.S. dual-citizenship are also eligible.

Pass a strict physical examination, and have a near and distant visual acuity correctable to 20/20 (6/6).

Blood pressure, while sitting, must be no greater than 140 over 90.

A bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics, as well as at least three years of related professional experience (graduate work or studies) and an advanced degree (master's degree = 1 year or a doctoral degree = 3 years)

Height must be 5 ft 2 in to 6 ft 4 in (1.57 to 1.93 m).

Members

See also: Astronaut ranks and positions

Astronauts

As of July 2011 the corps has 62 active astronauts, including 33 military officers, four medical doctors, and 15 with doctorates. The highest number of active astronauts at one time, was in 2000 when there were 149.

Astronaut Candidates

The term "Astronaut Candidate" refers to individuals who have been selected by NASA as candidates for the NASA Astronaut Corps and are currently undergoing a candidacy training program at the Johnson Space Center. Nine candidates were selected in June 2009 to join the Astronaut Corps. Upon completion of a two-year training program, they were promoted to the rank of Astronaut.

Pilots: Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, and Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman

Non-pilots: Serena M. Auñón, Jeanette J. Epps, Michael S. Hopkins, Kjell N. Lindgren, Kathleen (Kate) Rubins, and Mark T. Vande Hei

Former members

Civilian candidates are expected to remain with the Corps for at least five years following initial training while military candidates are assigned for specific tours. Following that, members of the Astronaut Corps may resign/retire at any time.

Twelve members of the Astronaut Corps were killed during spaceflight, Space Shuttle missions STS-51-L and STS-107. An additional seven were killed in training accidents. Sonny Carter died in a plane crash while traveling on NASA business.

Only two members of the Corps have been involuntarily dismissed: Lisa Nowak and William Oefelein. Both were returned to service with the U.S. Navy.

Selection groups

• 1959 Group 1 - "The Mercury Seven"
• 1962 Group 2 - "The New Nine"
• 1963 Group 3 - "The Fourteen"
• 1965 Group 4 - "The Scientists"
• 1966 Group 5 - "The Original 19"
• 1967 Group 6 - "The Excess Eleven (XS-11)"
• 1969 Group 7
• 1978 Group 8 - "Thirty-Five New Guys (TFNG)" (class included first female candidates)
• 1980 Group 9 - "19+80"
• 1984 Group 10 - "The Maggots"
• 1985 Group 11
• 1987 Group 12 - "The GAFFes"
• 1990 Group 13 - "The Hairballs"
• 1992 Group 14 - "The Hogs"
• 1994 Group 15 - "The Snails" aka "The Flying Escargot"
• 1996 Group 16 - "The Sardines" (largest class to date, 35 NASA candidates and nine international astronauts)
• 1998 Group 17 - "The Penguins"
• 2000 Group 18 - "The Bugs"
• 2004 Group 19 - "The Peacocks"
• 2009 Group 20 - "The Chumps"
• 2013 Group 21 - To be named

See also

• Canadian Astronaut Corps
• European Astronaut Corps
• List of astronauts by selection
• Human spaceflight
• History of spaceflight

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

External links

• NASA Astronaut Candidate Program Brochure
• Current NASA Astronaut Corps Members
• Former NASA Astronaut Corps Members