Want to become an astronaut? NASA to recruit in December-February

Want to be an astronaut? We have a happy news!

US Space Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is soon going to accept applications for the next class of future astronauts as a part of its efforts to prepare for an eventual manned mission to Mars, says an IANS report.

NASA will accept the applications between December 14 and mid-February 2016. However, short listing of the candidates will take place in mid 2017.

The candidates willing to apply for the same are required to hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Engineering, Biological Science, Physical Science or Mathematics. The candidates having an advanced degree will be preferred.  Candidates should also 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. Also, the candidates should be between 62 inches (1.57 meters) and 75 inches (1.90 meters). Besides, they are required to be a citizen of US.

Astronaut candidates, in order to get short listed will have to pass the NASA long-duration spaceflight physical test.

The next class of astronauts may fly on any of the four different US vessels during their careers: the International Space Station (ISS), two commercial crew spacecraft currently in development by the US companies, and NASA's Orion deep-space exploration vehicle that will take humans to Mars in the 2030s.

NASA Administrator, Charles Bolden said, "Those selected for this service will fly on US made spacecraft from American soil, advance critical science and research aboard the International Space Station, and help push the boundaries of technology in the proving ground of deep space".