Being an astronaut is a great responsibility, since not everyone is suitable for the position. In addition, training involves long hours of work and there is no guarantee that you will travel to space. However, more than 18,000 people compete each year to become NASA astronauts. Do you know what the requirements are to become an astronaut? We’ll tell you then.
What are the requirements to become an astronaut?
NASA has very strict requirements to be an astronaut. You must be in good physical shape and have sufficient technical skills to perform complex work on a spaceship. Additionally, you must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical science, life science, computer science, or math. It is also essential that you have three years of professional experience.
Candidates will have to pass a physical exam , although other skills such as diving, ease with languages (especially Russian) or experience in nature could be an advantage in the selection.
What are your spaceships like?
Astronauts use very different spacecraft depending on the missions they are going to carry out. In the coming years NASA hopes to return to the Moon and Mars, so it is possible that they will use the ‘Orion’ spacecraft to explore deep outer space. This ship is equipped with electricity, propulsion, thermal control, air and water. In addition, the ship is made up of two modules (one of them manufactured in Europe) and weighs around 21 tons.
Also, the next NASA astronauts will be launched from US soil, something that has not happened for more than a decade.
What do they spend most of their time on?
Although most people think that astronauts are always in space, they actually only spend a small part of their careers outside. In fact, most of their time they are training or supporting other missions.
First, candidates must pass two years of basic training, where they learn survival training and technical skills. Upon completion, new astronauts can be sent on a space mission or assigned to technical duties in the Astronaut Office at Johnson Space Center. Thus, they are dedicated to advising NASA engineers on how to develop new spacecraft.
