A future crew of astronauts makes a close approach to a near-Earth asteroid in this illustration. Image Credit/NASA
NASA needs new astronauts, and the competition for up to 15 opening is underway.
As of Friday, 400 people had applied for a chance to “fly NASA” as a future astronaut assigned to a tour of duty aboard the International Space Station or a mission aboard the Orion/Multipurpose Crew Vehicle. Orion is under development for deep space voyages to a range of deep space destinations, including near Earth asteroids and eventually Mars.
“What you get to do is be a small part of one of mankind’s greatest adventures,” Duane Ross, NASA’s astronaut selection and training lead, told NASA TV in an interview. “The job is very complex, a lot of skills are needed –scientists, engineers, medical doctors, educators and pilots. These folks all bring something different to the job.”
Duane Ross, right, who supervises the selection process explains the needs of NASA's astronaut corps. Image Credit/NASA TV
Applicants must be U. S.citizens and have college degrees in math or a scientific or engineering field.
More than 3,600 people applied for nine openings in 2009, the last time NASA hired astronauts.
The current application period expires on Jan 27.
“We need a lot of positive people,” explained Ross, who has participated in the NASA selection process since 1978. “We meet a lot of capable people you would never know about otherwise.”
The space agency intends to choose from a pool of applicants with diverse backgrounds.
“This job calls for hands on activities and team work,” said Ross. “If you can’t work as a member of a team, this is probably not the right job for you.”
For more information and a link to the electronic application process, click here: