Who knows about astonaut selection this go round?

Know they took applications month or so ago (I did not apply as I'm a SAHM
and can't hardly get in an airplane much less the shuttle). With the CAIB
report out and all the conferences with that and all going on they're on the
busy side but does anyone know any information about astronaut selection?
Are the postponing it? Going ahead and doing interviews? How many
astronauts are they looking to put in to training? What type of 'education'
or 'requirements' are they looking for - like Ph.D. geologists or only
pilots?

Anyone have insight into this? I've seen the information on the astronaut
page that gives the basic size, education, health requirements, etcetera,
but I'm looking for specifics.

Kim

K, T, E & N wrote:
Know they took applications month or so ago (I did not apply as I'm a SAHM
and can't hardly get in an airplane much less the shuttle). With the CAIB
report out and all the conferences with that and all going on they're on the
busy side but does anyone know any information about astronaut selection?
Are the postponing it? Going ahead and doing interviews? How many
astronauts are they looking to put in to training? What type of 'education'
or 'requirements' are they looking for - like Ph.D. geologists or only
pilots?

Anyone have insight into this? I've seen the information on the astronaut
page that gives the basic size, education, health requirements, etcetera,
but I'm looking for specifics.

Kim



All I've heard is that this class will be a fraction, if that, of the
last class. And they're looking for some who can fit the role of
"educator astronaut".

The class selection is proceeding, and the first 20 of 120 finalists will begin
interviewing at JSC this Sunday. Two groups will go in Sept; one in Oct, two in
Nov, and one in Dec.

In addition to civilian applicants, the Air Force nominated 132 officers, the
Army 70 (inc. 2 warrants), 3 from the Coast Guard (inc. one PHS doctor), 35
from the Marine Corps, 139 from the Navy, and 5 from the NOAA Corps.

Present plans call for selections to be made in February; Reporting date was
just moved up to June 2004, from Aug 2004.

Final class size is TBD, but will probably consist of around six pilots, three
physician mission specialists, and three educator mission specialists.

No international participation is planned thus far.

Dave

From: "K, T, E & N"

Thanks! So have all 120 been notified?

No, they'll be doing reference checks, and notifying people into late November.

Dave