NASA is hiring for astronauts via April 2. The job pays $152,258 a 12 months and comes with the potential for going to house, visiting the moon, and touring to Mars.
Anybody can apply, and plenty of will — every time the house company places out the decision each 4 years, it receives as many as 18,000 functions.
However solely eight to 14 candidates make the reduce, April Jordan, supervisor of NASA astronaut choice, informed Enterprise Insider. That is an acceptance fee of lower than 1%. At these odds, it is simpler to get into Harvard or MIT.
Each astronaut has to satisfy some minimal {qualifications}, like having a STEM or pilot background, and be capable to full the bodily coaching necessities.
Past that, although, Jordan mentioned there are a couple of methods candidates can stand out. One of the crucial vital is to incorporate hobbies and exterior pursuits that you just may not usually put in your résumé, she mentioned.
“That is a type of positions the place you are going to be bringing your entire self to the job,” Jordan mentioned, “and all of these issues that make you what you might be, are vital.”
Fundamental astronaut {qualifications}
“As you possibly can think about, this can be a actually common software,” Jordan mentioned. It requires lots of the identical info as different authorities jobs, together with references, expertise, and schooling.
“One of many first hurdles is to take a look at minimal {qualifications} for candidates,” Jordan mentioned. For instance, candidates want a grasp’s diploma or to be not less than two years right into a Ph.D. program in a STEM subject. Medical medical doctors and check pilot college graduates also can apply.
NASA
“The pool is getting smaller and smaller as you get via every of those hurdles,” Jordan mentioned. The subsequent step is what’s generally known as a score panel, made up of present astronauts.
They choose roughly 120 of probably the most extremely certified folks who’re then interviewed. That is when potential astronauts enter what Jordan calls the fish bowl.
Astronauts are a part of a crew
NASA invitations the small pool of candidates to 2 rounds of interviews on the Johnson House Heart in Houston.
Some elements of the interview course of to change into a NASA astronaut are much like what you’d encounter for a lot of jobs, Jordan mentioned. Nonetheless, many different elements sound much more intense.
For instance, the choice crew scrutinizes candidates throughout particular person and crew assessments and simulations.
“You are in a bit of little bit of a fish bowl, with folks being attentive to your behaviors throughout these simulations to evaluate the way you may do in actual life,” she mentioned.
Since astronauts is perhaps dwelling in shut quarters for six to 12 months at a time, there are particular traits that NASA appears for throughout these simulations. These embody teamwork, the flexibility to operate in high-pressure conditions, and self-regulation, Jordan mentioned.
There are additionally medical and psychological assessments. “We most likely acquire a whole bunch of information factors on an applicant earlier than we transfer to remaining choice,” Jordan mentioned.
She additionally burdened that the choice board is not searching for particular person astronauts. They’re placing collectively a crew who will spend the following two years coaching collectively.
NASA
Making a cohesive crew usually means deciding on folks with numerous backgrounds, Jordan mentioned. “It is also taking a look at, how do your life experiences make you distinctive,” she mentioned. “The way in which that you just leverage these high competencies could also be a bit of bit totally different than another person within the crew.”
It is why NASA appears at greater than only a candidate’s work expertise and education.
There is not any such factor as a typical astronaut
In some ways, astronauts are the face of NASA. It is a part of the explanation for the rigorous software course of.
“It tends to require a special sort of résumé than you’ll sometimes submit for a job exterior of the federal government,” Jordan mentioned.
That is why it is vital for candidates to consider the abilities and experiences they’ve exterior of their jobs and schooling, she mentioned.
NASA
For instance, rock climbers and hikers are used to carrying all the things they want in a small backpack, she mentioned. That is perhaps helpful since you do not get to carry lots of baggage with you to house.
“Assume out of the field a bit of bit when you’re exhibiting us who you might be,” she mentioned.
Candidates going via the rounds must be affected person. It could actually take between a 12 months and 18 months for the complete course of, Jordan mentioned.
However she hopes anybody who meets the minimal {qualifications} will apply. Because the days when astronauts had been all pilots, NASA has realized the worth of getting a numerous pool of candidates, she mentioned.
“In case you have a look at the category that we simply graduated,” she mentioned, “there is no such thing as a typical astronaut.”
