In article ,
says...

"Ami Silberman" wrote in message
...

"LaDonna Wyss" wrote in message
om...

Hey, folks--I wasn't sure where to post this one because there's been
so much blathering, but how about this for a question: You do realize
the first three groups of astronauts were recruited from within the
military, and by that I mean they received orders to show up at
such-and-so place at such-and-so time with absolutely no clue why they
were there?

I thought that they had to apply first, and then the candidates received
the
orders.

Shhhh! It's LaToya's fantasy.

Which, once again, displays her lack of real knowledge about the
American space program of the 1950s and 1960s. The very first astronaut
selection was, indeed, a "blind" call worked through the military chain
of command. Each service was asked to select a certain number of
candidates, who met in a room and were told exactly what the program was
about. (They were even told that they did not *have* to volunteer, if
they didn't want to.) They weren't told the subject of the meeting
until they arrived.

However, beginning with the second astronaut class, NASA issued requests
for application, listing the requirements and asking for applications
from individuals, both military and civilian. There weren't all that
many civilians who were qualified for the second group, since test pilot
experience was still mandatory. But beginning with the third group,
test pilot experience was simply "preferred," and several non-test
pilots applied (and several were accepted). Beginning with the second
group, your entry into the selection process began with your individual
application -- if you were active military, your chain of command found
out about it if/when you were asked to come interview with Deke & Co.

I'll just remind y'all the Neil Armstrong, a member of the second
astronaut group, was not in the military (either active or reserve) at
the time of his selection, and so could not have been ordered "blind"
into volunteering for the program. (Of course, he was already working
for NASA as a test pilot when the requests for applications went out, so
he did rather have an inside track...)

Doug