How hard is it to become an astronaut for NASA?

How Hard Is It to Become an Astronaut? NASA hires new astronauts every four years or so, and quite a few people apply. Only 12 out of 18,300 astronaut applicants were accepted for NASA’s class of 2017 — that’s an acceptance rate of less than 1\%. The road to becoming an astronaut is not easy.

What is the weight limit to become an astronaut?

Aside from being in excellent health, prospective astronauts must meet the following requirements: — Measure between 149.5 cm and 190.5 cm (4-10 and 6-3), and weigh between 50 and 95 kilograms (110 and 209 pounds).

Can you be an astronaut if you are 6 5?

Yes. For a mission specialist astronaut the acceptable height range is 58.5″ to 76″ (148.6 cm – 193 cm).

What are the requirements to be an astronaut?

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,…

Why do we need more astronauts?

As NASA continues to expand human exploration in our solar system, we will need more than the currently active astronauts to crew spacecraft bound for multiple deep-space destinations. NASA’s astronauts currently work as scientists on the International Space Station—a laboratory that orbits Earth approximately 240 miles above the planet’s surface.

What are the requirements to pass a NASA space physical?

Ability to pass a NASA space physical which is similar to a military or civilian flight physical and includes the following specific standards: Distant visual acuity: 20/100 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 each eye. Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in a sitting position. Height between 62 and 75 inches.

Why did NASA start looking for astronauts in 1964?

They also had to be shorter than 5 feet 11 inches—to fit in the Mercury spacecraft. In addition to flight and engineering expertise, space exploration requires scientific knowledge and the ability to apply it. So, in 1964, NASA began searching for scientists to be astronauts.