Astronaut selection process gets under way at ISS

Space sojourns: Future astronauts will have to undergo extended stays on the International Space Station.

NASA’s astronaut selection officials are busy screening applications for astronaut positions with the training for newly inducted astronaut-trainees slated to begin in early 2009. What is new about this year’s selection procedure?

As the space shuttle program is to be discontinued in 2010, the focus is now on those who meet the requirements for extended stays onboard the International Space Station. It is also about training them for manned missions to the moon (including long stays on the moon) which are part of NASA’s 21st century Vision for Space exploration, said NASA spokesperson Kylie Clem in an email communication to this Correspondent.

Space exploration, which has come a long way since the first manned spaceflights began in 1959, has needed astronauts with changing qualities as man’s stays in outer space became longer and longer (starting with the Apollo Lunar missions and later with the space shuttle program and the development of the International Space Station) and spacecraft and missions became more and more complex.

NASA, which at first looked at candidates with military jet aircraft flying experience only, had to tap from a varied pool of specialists that included engineers, doctors and scientists as well. Applicants without piloting backgrounds were selected as astronauts as early as 1965.

“By 1964, requirements had changed, and emphasis was placed on academic qualifications; in 1965, six scientist astronauts were selected from a group of 400 applicants who had a Doctorate or equivalent experience in the natural sciences, medicine, or engineering,” she noted.

In 2004 NASA also included people with educator backgrounds for selection as potential astronauts and this trend continues. The reason, according to her, is, besides becoming full-fledged astronauts, they can also lead NASA in the development of new ways to connect space exploration with the classroom and inspire students to consider careers in math, science, engineering and technology and maybe, some day join the US space program. “They are still required to have the appropriate academic qualifications,” Ms. Clem clarified.

One of criteria

Another important change in the selection criteria for the latest class of astronauts is that refractive surgical procedures of the eye — PRK, epi-LASIK, LASEK and LASIK — are now allowed, providing at least one year has passed since the date of the procedure with no permanent adverse after effects.

This has evolved over the last decade from the scientific operation experiences of the US Armed Services, NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration and Civilian Aerospace Medicine communities, noted Ms. Clem.