On Tuesday, November 15, 2011, NASA opened up to applications for Astronaut Candidates. Their website http://astronauts.nasa.gov/ details the Astronaut selection process. Their PDF goes into details on the qualifications. Some are very do-able for most American adults, others put the dream of being an Astronaut just out of reach.
To see these things clearly defined have allowed me to step up to the challenge.
The "key requirements" of the job, as outlined on the application are very easy for me:
-Position subject to a pre-employment background check. I passed a background check for Army Counterintelligence, so I think I'm okay.
-This is a drug-testing designated position. Again, totally okay on that. I don't do drugs and I won't do drugs because it so severely limits many wonderful opportunities in life.
- Frequent travel may be required. Awesome. Yes. I sure hope so!
- Selectee must pass a pre-employment medical examination. Not knowing what they're looking for, this one is the only thing that has me nibbling my nails. I know I can pass an FAA exam, but I've heard many anecdotes on conditions that failed Candidates out of the early low-earth orbit programs.
So, it sounds like I could be a pretty okay candidate for it. I was pretty stoked and ready to apply but I'm rather sure that impulsiveness is a quality not desired in people controlling billions of dollars hurtling through space and thousands of miles an hour. I read on and checked out the rest of the qualifications. This is where I realised that I am not ready for becoming an Astronaut. Though I had gone on another path in life, I could clearly see that it was not too late to make my dream career a reality.
Having the path to becoming an Astronaut laid out, I know exactly what I need to do.
1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. Quality of academic preparation is important. Ooohhh well then. First, I'm not done with my degree for another few years - and it's not in the sciences. My intent is to get a Masters in Photographic Conservation in Collections Management from Ryerson University and take that to the Air and Space Museum. In any restorative or preserving process, however, there is a strong element of chemistry. Part of the appeal to it IS the science behind the process. So, as I finish getting my Bachelors in Fine Arts I will tack on what looks to be an extra year for a dual major in Chemistry. It's possible I will have an extra 2 years because "quality of academic preparation" is important. I'm rather poor in the maths department, so I will need to go slow. This semester, I started by taking MATH015: Prealgebra and Introductory Algebra. It's been 15 years since I've taken a class in calculations and though I use arithmetic every day, I don't think of it. The semester has just started but once things get in swing, I'm going to go to the science chair and talk about getting on the path I need. I know there's many STEM grants available - especially to women - so I shouldn't be looking at much more of a financial burden.
2. Degree followed by at least 3 years of related, progressively responsible, professional experience OR at least 1,000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for experience as follows: master's degree = 1 year of experience, doctoral degree = 3 years of experience. Teaching experience, including experience at the K - 12 levels, is considered to be qualifying experience for the Astronaut Candidate position; therefore, educators are encouraged to apply. Not really knowing how my life's path will wind, this is a difficult requirement to determine. Jokes can be made about it, but I'd really like to explore the science of cleaning things. My professional experience in conservation sciences IS the science of cleaning things, but I don't think that's exactly what NASA is looking for. I thought that I'd like to keep the option of teaching open, but given the problems my local school corporations have been having I kinda put that idea aside. I may keep it open. This is something I believe I'll seek some guidance on. Astronaut Rex Walheim has made a video about the hiring process. Many current and former Astronauts seem dedicated to the furthering of the field, so I'm sure that if I commit myself to the process I will have resources available to me.
Though, with the rate I'm going these days, I might end up having those jet flight hours before I'm out of school.
3. Ability to pass the NASA long-duration space flight physical, which includes the following specific requirements:
Distant and near visual acuity: Must be correctable to 20/20, each eye It's been a long time since I've had an eye test, but I've always tested normally. I'm pretty lucky, with as tragically nerdy as I am, that I've never needed glasses.
The refractive surgical procedures of the eye, PRK and LASIK, are allowed, providing at least 1 year has passed since the date of the procedure with no permanent adverse after effects. For those applicants under final consideration, an operative report on the surgical procedure will be requested. Should I need correction, I would probably seek out a procedure like this anyway. I don't think I'd enjoy wearing gasses and I have a weird thing about eyes so daily touching of my eyes is not an option. Lord help me if I ever get something in there.
Blood pressure not to exceed 140/90 measured in a sitting position I've never really paid too much attention to my blood pressure before but I've been having a bit of a hormone problem that gives me odd blood pressures. Thankfully, it's on the low side. For example, when admitted to the ER last summer with intense abdominal pain (again tied to my hormone issue), my horribly stressed out blood pressure was 142/94 but after pain medicine it lowered to 121/83. I don't know what that all means. Honestly, I need to sort out this whole endocrine thing before I really commit myself to deep space travel anyway. None of the causes that doctors have supposed are FAA disqualifying, so we'll see.
Standing height between 62 and 75 inches. I am 64.75 inches, so go me.
Other things it seems they'll be looking for is skills in Russian language, physical fitness, and aeronautics abilities. I started flight training several years ago but had to stop when I moved away from Chicago and it got more expensive (figure THAT one out). I recently moved a bike ride away from a mid-sized airport where it's only $110/hour for flight training. Totally doable. I'll need to sell a lot of art to fund it, but luckily I'm in a really artsy place right now. Thankfully, I'm also very near a university with an awesome Russian language program. I had started learning, again, while in Chicago. I worked with a bunch of Russian and Ukrainian gals, so it just kind of rubbed off on me. When immersed, Russian is actually a rather easy language to learn. The language, as it exists today as spoken in the United States, has many loanwords from English. Astronauts on the ISS say they speak "Runglish", a mix of Russian and English. I just worry that "tourist Russian" won't be a lot of use while packed in a capsule for hours on end. Probably not a lot of need to ask for the bathroom or refusal of fish going on in a Soyuz.
I would like to know so much more about past Astronaut Candidates. These qualifications seem so simple and easy, how could they ever weed through the millions of applications they get? I know I must dedicate myself to absolute mastery of the necessary skills if I am going to get through the first round - next time around. I'm clearly not ready for NASA right now.
