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In article <0ZuAFgK00Uh_M28MJm@andrew.cmu.edu {  bb1v+@andrew.cmu.edu (Barry Lowell Brumitt) writes:
 { I remember a long while back there was a discussion on how NASA selects
 { astronauts, etc etc... I'd like to know more. I know they divide up into
 { pilots and mission specialists etc, but how are they chosen... and
 { better yet, how does one apply? 

A quick way to get the address ('cos I don't have it here) is to pick
up the new magazine FINAL FRONTIER which has a career guide for those
interested in space (it includes some useful info for lots of jobs
that might get you above the stratosphere).

I looked into this. Mission Specialists need to have at least a 
Class II Airman's Medical (20/50 eyesight both eyes correctable
to 20/20, good general health). Astronauts need to have a Class
I Airman's Medical (20/20 eyesight both eyes, excellent health -
you know, the general Superman qualifications). Also the application
forms want to know how much flight time you have broken down by
jet time, combat time and total time (that's for both Mission Specialists
and Astronauts).

They're selecting about a dozen new candidates a year. That's not
many. The waiting time to get a flight is at least 5 years, probably
more (and you spend most of that time being a photo opporunity).

However, I DO recommend applying. The only reason I didn't is that
I KNOW with my eyesight all I'd be is another statistic. Still, that
won't stop me next year - that statistic is probably one that NASA
waves in front of Congress' face when it needs to prove that interest
in space exploration hasn't waned.

	<todd>


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