NASA astronaut application pool reached 18300 record, more than doubling the astronaut application record of 1978.
NASA astronaut application pool reached 18300 record, more than doubling the astronaut application record of 1978.
The U.S. space agency is set to start training in mid 2017 with a new hopeful generation of astronauts, highly skilled and dedicated. Picking eight to fourteen candidates of the immense pool of applications counting 18,300 wannabe astronauts is a titanic task. Nonetheless, Charles Boden and the entire recruitment team at NASA is more than excited that the two-month application period brought so many outstanding applications.
While NASA has done a great job promoting astronaut applications on all social media channels, Charles Bolden, the administrator of the U.S. space agency believes that the applicants’ motivation lies elsewhere.
NASA astronaut application pool reached 18300 record. Back in 1978 the space shuttle was about to have a glorious debut. Excitement over the potential of the space shuttle program brought a record number of astronaut applications for the time: 8,000 people. The record remained unshattered until now, when new horizons seem more palpable than ever before. The 2017 astronaut class can certainly have its pick.
Nonetheless, the chances to become part of the 2017 astronaut class are rather small. After NASA announced that it will probably take about half a year to thoroughly examine all the applications for the 2017 astronaut class, only eight to fourteen applicants will be included in the final lucky draw.
The basic requirements for the next NASA astronaut class were for the applicants to be U.S. citizens holding a bachelor’s degree in math, science or engineering. Charles Bolden declared:
“It’s not all surprising to me that so many Americans from diverse backgrounds want to personally contribute to blazing the trail on our journey to Mars”.
This may be one of the most convincing reasons to apply for the 2017 astronaut class. NASA intends to make the Journey to Mars reality. With budget cutbacks and questions as to the feasibility of the project, it’s not yet clear when the first manned mission to Mars could take place. While it’s expected that the first manned mission to Mars will be blazing in the 2030s, the deadline could be pushed further or scrapped altogether.
Nonetheless, plenty of other exciting opportunities lay ahead of the new generation of astronauts. Following a two-year long training, the 2017 astronaut class will be assigned to the International Space Station, the Orion Spacecraft or other trailblazing missions.
Photo Credits: Pixabay
