GeekMom Ariane shared with us this week that NASA has started their search for the 2013 class of astronauts!
Want to get in on the action? Click here for the announcement on the NASA.gov website. You can learn more about what today’s astronauts will be doing, such as building and testing the next generation space vehicle, the Orion MPCV.
According to the official job advertisement on the USAJOBS website, qualifying candidates need to have at least bachelor’s degrees in engineering, physical science, biological science or mathematics fields. Check the ad carefully, for several fields that may qualify are excluded. In addition to the education requirement, at least three years of job experience is required, with substitutions one can make for having master’s or doctoral degrees.
Finally, there are very precise physical and medical qualifications to become an astronaut. My very own dear husband applied for the 2004 class, but sadly was disqualified due to a prior eye surgery. While refractive surgery such as LASIK is no longer a disqualifying condition, Dave had something more invasive.
Learn more about the astronaut selection process through this NASA fact sheet.
Read biographies of the 2009 astronaut candidates here.
Patricia Vollmer
Patricia Vollmer is the proud mother of two sons, ages 14 & 17, who are as geeky as she is. She's been writing for the Geek Family Network since 2011. She is a meteorologist currently teaching at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Hobbies include running, despite no one chasing her, sharing her love for Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars, and exploring the world with her boys. Ask her why the sky is blue at your own risk.
