Want to be an Astronaut? Here's Your Chance!

West Point graduate Edward H. White was the first American to spacewalk on June 3, 1965. Photo: NASA

The future is almost here. In gearing up to begin human space travel departing from the United States using commercial spacecraft, NASA recently announced that it will be accepting applications for the next class of astronaut candidates, from December 14th, 2015, through mid-February 2016. They're looking for new recruits to help carry out deep-space exploration missions, with a goal of a human mission to Mars. 

The Hudson Valley's connection to the space program runs deep, really deep. So far, 18 graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point in Highland Falls have become astronauts. They include Frank Borman, the first person to see the far side of the moon, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, two of the first three astronauts on the first successful mission to the Moon, Edward H. White, the first American to perform a spacewalk, and David Scott, the seventh person to walk on the Moon. Hudson Valley natives Nicole Stott and Ronald J. Garan, Jr. round out the list of people who lived here, and went up there.

It's not impossible to think that during the years that these individuals lived in our region, they looked up into the same exact night sky we admire so much, and thought it was worth checking out in person. Now, it's your chance. You don't need to be a West Point graduate to apply, this application is open to anyone who has earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. An advanced degree is desirable.

Candidates also must have at least three years of related, progressively responsible professional experience, or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Astronaut candidates must pass the NASA long-duration spaceflight physical. NASA needs the best and the brightest out of all of us. There's more development of spacecraft happening, than any other time in our history, and we're looking to push further out into space than we ever have before. This is your opportunity to be a part of that story.

Do you have the passion for space exploration? Applications for consideration as a NASA astronaut will be accepted here, beginning December 14th, 2015.

Official NASA Press Release