What does it take to be an astronaut?

Emily Bills for redOrbit.com – @emilygbills

When I was little, I wanted to be a lot of different things when I grew up. For a brief time, I thought I would be a nurse, like many little girls do. Then I rebelled and thought I might want to be an actual hot air balloon. But when I got to middle school, I set my dreams high and decided that I wanted to be an astronaut. (Later on I took one of those job placements tests and my results said I would most certainly become a garbage man, but I digress.)

All the adults in my life told me, the chubby, basically half-blind girl with bad knees, that I would never be an astronaut, and I was crushed. So, in the spirit of rejection, we decided to compile a list of just what exactly it takes to be an astronaut.

1. You gotta have brains

NASA requires a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in engineering, physical science, or math. But this is just what’s required. To actually land a job as an astronaut, you will probably need a more advanced degree. And, to top it all off, they require in bold that you must have at least 3 years of professional experience in your field.

2. If you aren’t a good pilot, forget about it

You have to have at a minimum of 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command flying time. Like the education requirement, to get a job with the big boys (NASA), you need to put in some extra effort. Some flight test experience is also highly desirable.

3. Can’t forget the brawns (here’s where I would fail)

If you can’t pass the NASA space physical (which is similar to that of a military physical), then you absolutely won’t make it because NASA runs a tight ship. Your vision must be perfect, with correctible eyesight of 20/20 in each eye. Blood pressure can’t go above 140/90 and you must be between a standing height of 62 and 75 inches.

4. ISS training

You can’t just show up to NASA one day and expect to be sent to space all willy-nilly. You have to undergo rigorous training. Knowledge of the ISS and how it works is mandatory because you’ll be living there for usually up to 3-6 months, but you’ll also need to be in the know about the individual missions and objectives. Not only would you need to train your mind, but also you have to train your body to withstand the sometimes-harsh conditions of space.

In summation, becoming an astronaut is not something to take lightly. You’ve gotta be in it to win it, but the pay-off of sailing above Earth miles away is worth it.

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