The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is recruiting qualified candidates to be certified astronauts. Those who will qualify will be sent for future Mars explorations.
NASA is looking for candidates to become astronauts to be based on the International Space Station and at some point to be deployed to Mars for exploration. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in mathematics, science or engineering from institutions accredited by the space administration with three years of related experience in their fields.
The last time that the space administration opened up applications to become an astronaut was in 2012. The recruitment received over 6,000 applicants, the most response received since the recruitment in 1978. As for this round, it could receive even more responses since 2012 given that space science is becoming a popular trend, plus the popularity of the space agency. In addition, an all-expense paid trip to another planet sounds like an indisputable perk.
Administrator Charles Bolden of NASA deep-rooted that the next group of American space adventurers will motivate the Mars generation to achieve new heights. Selected candidates will be able to ascend from American soil to the ISS where advanced research and critical sciences are being conducted to push technological boundaries of deep space.
The NASA requirements to become an astronaut are less intense than usual. Pilot candidates must have 1,000 hours of experience in flying a jet aircraft. Mission specialists would need to have at least three years of professional field experience. Although not a requirement, the space administration prefers candidates to have an advanced degree of some kind.
In addition, candidates need to clear a NASA space physical to prove that they have good blood pressure and range of vision. Roughly, candidates need to be at a height of at least 150 centimeters and at most 193 centimeters tall as there is not much headroom for space shuttles and the ISS. Application for the next generation of astronauts starts on Dec. 14.
