What It's Like to Become a NASA Astronaut: 10 Surprising Facts

[AmyStrange]

-

This is an old article, but I still found it interesting, especially about the part where you are now required to learn Russian, but that actually makes sense...

-

FROM: https://www.space.com/37110-becoming-a-nasa-astronaut-surprising-facts.html

What It's Like to Become a NASA Astronaut: 10 Surprising Facts
By Elizabeth Howell (2017-06-07)

Surprising Facts

Being an astronaut is a tremendous commitment. Astronaut candidates — who tend to be selected in their 30s and 40s — usually leave prestigious careers for a chance at being an astronaut, starting again at the bottom of the rung. Training means long days at work and lots of travel. There's also no guarantee they'll make it into space.

Yet, more than 18,000 Americans competed in this round of NASA's astronaut selection. The new candidates will be announced Wednesday (June 7), and will report for basic training in August. Here's what it takes to be a NASA astronaut and what happens after the selection.

Astronaut requirements

NASA has strict requirements for being an astronaut. The job not only needs you in top physical shape, but it also demands the technical skills to take on difficult jobs in a spacecraft or on a space station far from home.

The agency's basic requirements are a bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science or mathematics, followed by three years of professional experience (or 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft). Candidates also must pass NASA's astronaut physical examination. However, there are many other skills that can be an asset to selection, such as scuba diving, wilderness experience, leadership experience and facility with other languages (especially Russian, which all astronauts are required to learn today.)...

What an astronaut "class" looks like

(SNIP)

-

 

[arthwollipot]

Astronauts were required to learn Russian because until 31 May 2020, the only way to get to the International Space Station was aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket launching from Baikonur.

 

[AmyStrange]

-

Astronauts were required to learn Russian because until 31 May 2020, the only way to get to the International Space Station was aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket launching from Baikonur.

-

Makes sense to me and thank you.

-

 

[rjh01]

But will they be required to learn Russian in the future now that there are manned launches from the USA again? Or at least will be soon. Please remember that learning a language takes a lot of time.

 

[arthwollipot]

But will they be required to learn Russian in the future now that there are manned launches from the USA again? Or at least will be soon. Please remember that learning a language takes a lot of time.

So does training to be an astronaut.