When I started my doolie (freshman) year at the USAF Academy, one of my classmates stated that his mission in life was to become an astronaut. He had been planning it out since he was like 10 years old.<p>He told us that this was his plan: First he had to get into the Academy, then major in engineering - ideally aeronautical engineering, then become a fighter pilot then become a test pilot and finally apply and become a NASA astronaut. I challenged him to be the first one in space, except I said that I would pay for a ride there as a tourist.<p>He ended up being the #1 grad from our class with his degree in aero engineering, went on to get his doctorate from Oxford and is now flying the B-1B. Still a few steps to go.<p>HOWEVER - there is almost no chance of him ever piloting a US spacecraft based largely on where the manned space program is. So while I am a little sad for him, given how hard he has been trying - it also makes our wager look more promising in my favor!
This is decades old. Look at the date. It's about someone who was selected in 1992. "With the space station currently under construction...". This dates from the early Shuttle era.<p>NASA has far too many astronauts now; they've been laying them off. They're now down to 42 active astronauts[1], from a peak of around 130. One ex-astronaut was grumbling publicly that his pass to NASA Houston had been pulled. Ex-astronauts used to be allowed in for life. Not any more.<p>After all, NASA has nothing for them to pilot.<p>Space-X, though...<p>[1] <a href="http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html</a>
TL;DR: School > Air Force > 'selected' by NASA.<p>I thought this was going to be an inspiring 'to do' list of candidates & application processes. Just being selected with no mention of reasoning or criteria was kind of a let down.
I applied to ESA Astronaut selection 6 or 7 years ago. I´m airline pilot but with no military or engineering experience, only reading quite a lot about the space race all my live (great resume huh?). I knew I didn't have a chance, because they mostly were asking for a scientific curriculum, Ph.D.'s that had a good number of publications under their belts, that and a good public speaking capacity were the more important characteristics. Piloting skills were in the nice to have but not important by any means zone.<p>I guess that astronauts this days are mostly researchers in a very high and fast laboratory, but above all they are PR's for the 95% of their career, at least in Europe.<p>Obviously with my laughable resume I was weeded out in the first screening.
Seems to me one's most probable mean to get into space is to get rich and buy yourself a seat. Getting rich is something much more into your control than getting selected and having the will of a government decide of your faith.
Its fun to see Cady on here. She lives in my little village of Shelburne Falls, MA and sometimes plays in a free Sunday morning celtic jam session in a town.<p>Here is Cady doing a duet in space with a member of Jethro Tull:<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeC4nqBB5BM" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeC4nqBB5BM</a>
Also, don't be a midget (<5'2") or a giant (>6'3"). [1]<p>[1]<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/features/F_Astronaut_Requirements.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/featu...</a>