NASA Wants You!

NASA has formally announced that they will begin recruiting more astronauts. Applications will commence in November, for the post shuttle era class in 2013. NASA are yet to confirm the number of applicants they will hire, however chief astronaut Peggy Whitson estimated it could be between 4 to six candidates. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science or math, plus three years of relevant post-university work experience. Graduate degrees are a plus and can be substituted for time spent working in the real world. Applicants must also have distance vision that is correctable to 20/20. Eligible candidates must be between 5 feet 2 and six feet three. Candidates must also have a resting bloody pressure that does not exceed 140 over 90. The recruitment of new astronauts came, as last month the National Research Council reported that NASA needs to hire more astronauts if it is to undertake further manned missions. Successful applicants, once selected will undergo a series of intense training phases for space travel. The agency currently counts 61 astronauts eligible for flight consignments, down from 139 fliers in 2000. An exciting time for NASA and aspiring astronauts, as space travel becomes a little closer, for some. Applications will close on January 13, 2012. NASA will then announce their final selection in March 2013.