Forum: Civil and General Aviation

Hi everyone, just wanted to know just what does NASA look for when they choose spacecraft pilots.

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http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/content/faq.htm

There's probably not enough bandwidth to fully answer this question. But remember this: even when they whittle it down to the finalists, which Congressional district they come from plays a very large role in the final selection.

4 of my TPS classmates are/were astronauts, 4 of my work mates from Eglin were selected, and I know several others. I even made it a couple of rounds deep 4 different boards before non-select. I can say with confidence that Congress has no say in astronaut selection.

Congress doesn't; but NASA does. NASA also needs funding. As such, NASA likes to do things that will please Congress, or at least certain members of Congress. And once you get down to the finalists, you've got a very competent group. How do you delineate? By selecting people that bring other things to the table. And "funding" is a good thing to bring to the table.

Sorry, but you are incorrect on this. Yes funding is important, but no...Congress has no say.

Sorry, Roscoe: I'm not espressing my point well. You're right, Congress is not involved. What I'm saying is that NASA has the political savvy to consider where a crew member is from when making their final decision.

And I'm telling you where an applicant is from has no bearing on the selection process. Consider the military guys...home is real hard to define for them as they constantly on the move.

You gotta trust me on this one.

Well, to get the thread back on track: I am curious what NASA uses when they're down to the finalists (how many make as "finalists"?) to make the final cut. And is it common to be a finalist, not get selected, try again the next cycle, and make it then?

The military services each submit 100-200 names, and there are usually about 1000 qualified civilian applicants. NASA takes these 1500 or so names and weeds them down to about 400 (varies by year)...those they call "highly qualified". For those, NASA sends a form to the references submitted by the applicant, seeking info. Once those are received, NASA then selects 120 finalists (called "Best qualified").

There are typically 5-6 interview weeks, with 20 finalists invited to each (better to be early, because if they get their quota, they've been known to cancel the last week). During that week, the finalists are subjected to a fairly grueling physical exam, including carrying along a "gym" bag full of specimen bags...the applicant is expected to collect everything leaving his body during the specified time. During one 24 hr period the applicants will have a portable EKG device attached...he is to log all events that would raise the heartbeat (climbing stairs, strenuous bowel movements, one friend even had the actual interview during his 24 hr window). The interview itself is 1 hr of the week. At every point the applicants are being evaluated. They are encouraged to meet astronauts who of course report back their observations. There is also an essay written by all (some topic like "what's the biggest problem facing the world and how does the space program fit in").

I could go on, but the bottom line is that once you are invited to an interview, you are deemed technically qualified...what they are now looking for is who can live in a minivan with 6 other folks for 2 weeks.

Yes, folks have been interviewed and not selected, and invited back and then selected. Another military friend was told he had gallstones and could not be selected until the condition was corrected. He immediately found a civilian doctor, had them ultrasonically blasted, sent in the medical report, and was selected.

Forum: Civil and General Aviation

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