NASA Astronaut Corps: Difference between revisions

[[File:NASA space suits at JSC.jpg|thumb|NASA [[space suit]]s previously worn by the Astronaut Corps at the Johnson Space Center (center, [[Pete Conrad]]'s suit worn during the 1969 [[Apollo 12]] mission)]]

The first U.S. astronaut candidates were selected by NASA in 1959, for its [[Project Mercury]] with the objective of orbiting astronauts around the [[Earth]] in single-man capsules. The military services were asked to provide a list of military test pilots who met specific qualifications. After stringent screening, NASA announced its selection of the "[[Mercury Seven]]" as its first astronauts. Since then, NASA has selected 22 more groups of astronauts, opening the corps to civilians, scientists, doctors, engineers, and school teachers. As of the 2009 Astronaut Class, 61% of the astronauts selected by NASA have come from military service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html|title=Astronauts|work=nasa.gov|date=11 February 2015}}</ref>

NASA selects candidates from a diverse pool of applicants with a wide variety of backgrounds. From the thousands of applications received, only a few are chosen for the intensive astronaut candidate training program. Including the "Original Seven", 339 candidates have been selected to date.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/ |title=NASA – Astronaut Selection<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2010-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218063516/http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/ |archive-date=2010-12-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Chief of the Astronaut Office]] is the most senior leadership position for active astronauts in the Corps. The Chief Astronaut serves as head of the Corps and is the principal adviser to the [[NASA Administrator]] on astronaut training and operations. The first Chief Astronaut was [[Deke Slayton]], appointed in 1962. The current Chief Astronaut is [[Joe Acaba]].

Salaries for newly hired civilian astronauts are based on the federal government's [[General Schedule]] pay scale for grades GS-11 through GS-14. The astronaut's grade is based on his or her academic achievements and experience.<ref>[http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/content/faq.htm NASA – Astronaut Selection<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224152322/http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/content/faq.htm |date=2010-12-24 }}</ref> Astronauts can be promoted up to grade GS-15.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/72816419/Astronaut-Job|title=Astronaut Job|work=Scribd}}</ref> As of 2015, astronauts based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, earn between $66,026 (GS-11 step 1) and $158,700 (GS-15 step 8 and above).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/15Tables/html/HOU.aspx|title=Pay & Leave : Salaries & Wages - OPM.gov|work=U.S. Office of Personnel Management}}</ref> As of the new astronaut candidate class announcement of 2024, astronaut candidates will be removed from the GS pay scale and be paid on an AD 'Administratively Determined" scale.

Candidates must have a [[master's degree]] from an accredited institution in [[engineering]], [[biological science]], [[physical science]] or [[mathematics]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/explorers-wanted-nasa-to-hire-more-artemis-generation-astronauts|title=Explorers Wanted: NASA to Hire More Artemis Generation Astronauts|first=Sean|last=Potter|date=Feb 11, 2020|website=NASA|accessdate=Apr 23, 2021}}</ref> The degree must be followed by at least two to three years of related, progressively responsible, professional experience (graduate work or studies) or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for experience, such as a doctoral degree (which counts as the two years experience). Teaching experience, including experience at the [[K–12]] levels, is considered to be qualifying experience.

{{update section|date=March 2023}}

{{as of|2024|3}}, the corps has 48 "active" astronauts consisting of 20 women and 28 men<ref>https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/active-astronauts/</ref> The highest number of active astronauts at one time was in 2000 when there were 149.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.universetoday.com/81316/how-many-astronauts-does-nasa-need/|title=How Many Astronauts Does NASA Need? (Dec. 7, 2010)|date=7 December 2010}}</ref> All of the current astronaut corps are from the classes of 1996 (Group 16) or later.

<!--table last updated March 2024 from https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/active-astronauts/ --->

{{Import style|sticky}}

{| class="wikitable sortable is-sticky-head"

|-

! Astronaut !! Missions !! Group !! Days in Space

|- <!-- `style="white-space: nowrap;" |` before group name in the top entry keeps the column from wrapping too much, which makes the list FAR more readable -->

| [[Nichole Ayers]] || None - awaiting assignment ||style="white-space: nowrap;" | 2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] || 0

|-

| [[Michael Barratt (astronaut)|Michael Barratt]] || [[Soyuz TMA-14]] ([[Expedition 19]]/[[Expedition 20|20]]), [[STS-133]], [[SpaceX Crew-8]] ([[Expedition 70]]/[[Expedition 71|71]]) || 2000 [[NASA Astronaut Group 18|Group 18]] || Currently in space

|-

| [[Kayla Barron]] || [[SpaceX Crew-3]] ([[Expedition 66]]/[[Expedition 67|67]])|| 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || 176.11

|-

| [[Marcos Berríos]] || None - awaiting assignment || 2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] || 0

|-

| [[Christina Birch]] || None - awaiting assignment || 2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] || 0

|-

| [[Eric Boe]] || [[STS-126]], [[STS-133]] || 2000 [[NASA Astronaut Group 18|Group 18]] || 28.65

| [[Stephen Bowen (astronaut)|Stephen Bowen]] || [[STS-126]], [[STS-132]], [[STS-133]], [[SpaceX Crew-6]] ([[Expedition 68]]/[[Expedition 69|69]]) || 2000 [[NASA Astronaut Group 18|Group 18]] || 226.36

| [[Randolph Bresnik]] || [[STS-129]], [[Soyuz MS-05]] ([[Expedition 52]]/[[Expedition 53|53]]) || 2004 [[NASA Astronaut Group 19|Group 19]] || 149.51

| [[Deniz Burnham]] || None - awaiting assignment || 2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] || 0

| [[Zena Cardman]] || [[SpaceX Crew-9]] (upcoming flight) || 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || 0

| [[Josh Cassada]] || [[SpaceX Crew-5]] ([[Expedition 68]]) || 2013 [[NASA Astronaut Group 21|Group 21]] || 157.42

| [[Raja Chari]] || [[SpaceX Crew-3]] ([[Expedition 66]]/[[Expedition 67|67]])

|| 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || 176.11

| [[Luke Delaney (astronaut)|Luke Delaney]] || None - awaiting assignment || 2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] || 0

| [[Matthew Dominick]] || [[SpaceX Crew-8]] ([[Expedition 70]]/[[Expedition 71|71]]) || 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || Currently in space

| [[Andre Douglas]] || None - awaiting assignment || 2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] || 0

| [[Tracy Caldwell Dyson]] || [[STS-118]], [[Soyuz TMA-18]] ([[Expedition 23]]/[[Expedition 24|24]]), [[Soyuz MS-25]] ([[Expedition 70]]/[[Expedition 71|71]]) || 1998 [[NASA Astronaut Group 17|Group 17]] || Currently in space

| [[Jeanette Epps]] || [[SpaceX Crew-8]] ([[Expedition 70]]/[[Expedition 71|71]]) || 2009 [[NASA Astronaut Group 20|Group 20]] || Currently in space

| [[Michael Fincke]] || [[Soyuz TMA-4]] ([[Expedition 9]]), [[Soyuz TMA-13]] ([[Expedition 18]]), [[STS-134]], [[Boeing Starliner-1]] (upcoming flight) || 1996 [[NASA Astronaut Group 16|Group 16]] || 381.63

| [[Victor J. Glover|Victor Glover]] || [[SpaceX Crew-1]] ([[Expedition 64]]/[[Expedition 65|65]]), [[Artemis 2]] (upcoming flight)|| 2013 [[NASA Astronaut Group 21|Group 21]] || 167.27

| [[Nick Hague]] || [[Soyuz MS-10]], [[Soyuz MS-12]] ([[Expedition 59]]/[[Expedition 60|60]]), [[SpaceX Crew-9]] (upcoming flight) || 2013 [[NASA Astronaut Group 21|Group 21]] || 202.66

| [[Jack Hathaway]] || None - awaiting assignment || 2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] || 0

| [[Robert Hines (astronaut)|Bob Hines]] || [[SpaceX Crew-4]] ([[Expedition 67]]/[[Expedition 68|68]]) || 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || 170.54

| [[Warren Hoburg]] || [[SpaceX Crew-6]] ([[Expedition 68]]/[[Expedition 69|69]]) || 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || 185.95

| [[Jonny Kim]] || None - awaiting assignment || 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || 0

| [[Christina Koch]] || [[Soyuz MS-12]]/[[Soyuz MS-13]] ([[Expedition 59]]/[[Expedition 60|60]]/[[Expedition 61|61]]), [[Artemis 2]] (upcoming flight) || 2013 [[NASA Astronaut Group 21|Group 21]] || 328.58

| [[Kjell Lindgren]] || [[Soyuz TMA-17M]] ([[Expedition 44]]/[[Expedition 45|45]]), [[SpaceX Crew-4]] ([[Expedition 67]]/[[Expedition 68|68]]) || 2009 [[NASA Astronaut Group 20|Group 20]] || 312.22

| [[Nicole Aunapu Mann]] || [[SpaceX Crew-5]] ([[Expedition 68]]) || 2013 [[NASA Astronaut Group 21|Group 21]] || 157.42

| [[K. Megan McArthur]] || [[STS-125]], [[SpaceX Crew-2]] ([[Expedition 65]]/[[Expedition 66|66]]) || 2000 [[NASA Astronaut Group 18|Group 18]] || 212.64

| [[Anne McClain]] || [[Soyuz MS-11]] ([[Expedition 58]]/[[Expedition 59|59]]) || 2013 [[NASA Astronaut Group 21|Group 21]] || 203.64

| [[Jessica Meir]] || [[Soyuz MS-15]] ([[Expedition 61]]/[[Expedition 62|62]]) || 2013 [[NASA Astronaut Group 21|Group 21]] || 204.64

| [[Anil Menon (NASA astronaut)|Anil Menon]] || None - awaiting assignment || 2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] || 0

| [[Jasmin Moghbeli]] || [[SpaceX Crew-7]] ([[Expedition 69]]/[[Expedition 70|70]]) || 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || 199.10

| [[Andrew R. Morgan|Andrew Morgan]] || [[Soyuz MS-13]]/[[Soyuz MS-15]] ([[Expedition 60]]/[[Expedition 61|61]]/[[Expedition 62|62]]) || 2013 [[NASA Astronaut Group 21|Group 21]] || 271.53

| [[Loral O'Hara]] || [[Soyuz MS-24]] ([[Expedition 69]]/[[Expedition 70|70]]) || 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || 203.65

| [[Donald Pettit]] || [[STS-113]]/[[Soyuz TMA-1]] ([[Expedition 6]]), [[STS-126]], [[Soyuz TMA-03M]] ([[Expedition 30]]/[[Expedition 31|31]]) || 1996 [[NASA Astronaut Group 16|Group 16]] || 369.70

| [[Kathleen Rubins]] || [[Soyuz MS-01]] ([[Expedition 48]]/[[Expedition 49|49]]), [[Soyuz MS-17]] ([[Expedition 63]]/[[Expedition 64|64]]) || 2009 [[NASA Astronaut Group 20|Group 20]] || 300.06

| [[Frank Rubio]] || [[Soyuz MS-22]]/[[Soyuz MS-23]] ([[Expedition 67]]/[[Expedition 68|68]]/[[Expedition 69|69]]) || 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || 370.89

| [[Scott Tingle]] || [[Soyuz MS-07]] ([[Expedition 54]]/[[Expedition 55|55]]), [[Boeing Starliner-1]] (upcoming flight) || 2009 [[NASA Astronaut Group 20|Group 20]] || 168.22

| [[Mark Vande Hei]] || [[Soyuz MS-06]] ([[Expedition 53]]/[[Expedition 54|54]]), [[Soyuz MS-18]]/[[Soyuz MS-19]] ([[Expedition 64]]/[[Expedition 65|65]]/[[Expedition 66|66]]) || 2009 [[NASA Astronaut Group 20|Group 20]] || 523.37

| [[Shannon Walker]] || [[Soyuz TMA-19]] ([[Expedition 24]]/[[Expedition 25|25]]), [[SpaceX Crew-1]] ([[Expedition 64]]/[[Expedition 65|65]]) || 2004 [[NASA Astronaut Group 19|Group 19]] || 330.57

| [[Jessica Watkins]] || [[SpaceX Crew-4]] ([[Expedition 67]]/[[Expedition 68|68]]) || 2017 [[NASA Astronaut Group 22|Group 22]] || 170.54

| [[Douglas Wheelock]] || [[STS-120]], [[Soyuz TMA-19]] ([[Expedition 24]]/[[Expedition 25|25]]) || 1998 [[NASA Astronaut Group 17|Group 17]] || 178.40

| [[Barry Wilmore]] || [[STS-129]], [[Soyuz TMA-14M]] ([[Expedition 41]]/[[Expedition 42|42]]), [[Boeing Crewed Flight Test]] || 2000 [[NASA Astronaut Group 18|Group 18]] || Currently in space

| [[Stephanie Wilson]] || [[STS-121]], [[STS-120]], [[STS-131]], [[SpaceX Crew-9]] (upcoming flight) || 1996 [[NASA Astronaut Group 16|Group 16]] || 42.99

| [[Christopher Williams (astronaut)|Christopher Williams]] || None - awaiting assignment || 2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] || 0

| [[Sunita Williams]] || [[STS-116]]/[[STS-117]] ([[Expedition 14]]/[[Expedition 15|15]]), [[Soyuz TMA-05M]] ([[Expedition 32]]/[[Expedition 33|33]]), [[Boeing Crewed Flight Test]] || 1998 [[NASA Astronaut Group 17|Group 17]] || Currently in space

| [[Reid Wiseman]] || [[Soyuz TMA-13M]] ([[Expedition 40]]/[[Expedition 41|41]]), [[Artemis 2]] (upcoming flight) || 2009 [[NASA Astronaut Group 20|Group 20]] || 165.33

| [[Jessica Wittner]] || None - awaiting assignment || 2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] || 0

There are currently{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} 19 "international active astronauts", "who are assigned to duties at the Johnson Space Center",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/international |title=Partner Astronauts |publisher=NASA |date=2018-12-11 |access-date=2019-03-03}}</ref> who were selected by their home agency to train as part of a NASA Astronaut Group and serve alongside their NASA counterparts. While the international astronauts, [[Payload Specialist]]s, and [[Spaceflight Participant]]s go through training with the NASA Astronaut Corps, they are not considered members of the corps.

{{as of|2021|January}}, the corps has 13 "management" astronauts, who remain NASA employees but are no longer eligible for flight assignment. The current management astronauts are assigned to NASA operations as follows: [[Ames Research Center]] (one astronaut); [[NASA Headquarters]] (four); & [[Johnson Space Center]] (eight).<ref>https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/management-astronauts/</ref>

<!--following needs to be checked for up to date-->

The management astronauts included personnel chosen to join the corps as early as 1987 ([[NASA Astronaut Group 12|Group 12]], Associate Administrator for the Human Exploration Operations Mission Directorate [[Kenneth D. Bowersox]]) and as recently as 2009 ([[NASA Astronaut Group 20|Group 20]], [[Serena Auñón-Chancellor]] of medical and [[Flight controller#CAPCOM|CAPCOM]] branches).<ref>{{cite web |title=Serena M. Auñón-Chancellor (M.D.) NASA Astronaut |date=October 2019 |publisher=NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/aunon.pdf |access-date=2021-01-24}}</ref>

The term "Astronaut Candidate" (informally "ASCAN"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1308/20ascanintro/ |title=Breaking News &#124; NASA instroduces its new class of astronauts |publisher=Spaceflight Now |access-date=2014-07-13}}</ref>) refers to individuals who have been selected by NASA as candidates for the NASA Astronaut Corps and are currently undergoing a candidacy training program at the [[Johnson Space Center]]. The [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|most recent class]] of astronaut candidates was selected in 2021.<ref>[http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/content/AstroCandbro_sm_new.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827022721/http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/content/AstroCandbro_sm_new.pdf|date=August 27, 2010}}</ref>

Only three astronaut candidates have resigned before completing training: [[Brian O'Leary]] and [[Anthony Llewellyn]], both from the 1967 Selection Group, and [[Robb Kulin]] of the 2017 group. O'Leary resigned in April 1968 after additional [[Apollo mission]]s were cancelled, Llewellyn resigned in August 1968 after failing to qualify as a jet pilot, and Kulin resigned in August 2018 for unspecified personal reasons.<ref>chron.com/news/nation-world/space/article/2017-NASA-astronaut-candidate-resigning-this-month-13185081.php</ref> Another astronaut candidate, [[Stephen Thorne (astronaut)|Stephen Thorne]], died in an airplane accident before he could finish astronaut training.<ref name="sthorne">{{cite web |author1=Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center |author1-link=Johnson Space Center |title=Stephen D. Thorne |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/thorne_stephen.pdf |website=Biographical Data |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506143338/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/thorne_stephen.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2021 |location=[[Houston, Texas]] |format=PDF |date=November 1986 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Selection as an astronaut candidate and subsequent promotion to astronaut does not guarantee the individual will eventually fly in space. Some have voluntarily resigned or been medically disqualified after becoming astronauts but before being selected for flights.

Civilian candidates are expected to remain with the corps for at least five years after initial training; military candidates are assigned for specific tours. After these time limits, members of the Astronaut Corps may resign or retire at any time.

Three members of the Astronaut Corps ([[Gus Grissom]], [[Ed White (astronaut)|Edward White]], and [[Roger B. Chaffee]]) were killed during a ground test accident while preparing for the [[Apollo 1]] mission. <!--Do not change eleven to fourteen; payload specialists WERE NOT members of the Astronaut Corps.-->Eleven were killed during spaceflight, on Space Shuttle missions [[STS-51-L]] and [[STS-107]].{{NoteTag|Three payload specialists were also killed on the two missions, but are not counted here because as payload specialists they were not considered members of the NASA Astronaut Corps.}} Another four ([[Elliot See]], [[Charles Bassett]], [[Theodore Freeman]], and [[Clifton Williams]]) were killed in [[Northrop T-38 Talon|T-38]] plane crashes during training for space flight during the [[Project Gemini|Gemini]] and [[Apollo program]]s. [[Edward Givens|Another]] was killed in a 1967 automobile accident, and [[Sonny Carter|another]] died in a 1991 commercial airliner crash while traveling on NASA business.

Two members of the corps have been involuntarily dismissed: [[Lisa Nowak]] and [[William Oefelein]]. Both were returned to service with the [[United States Navy|US Navy]].

* [[John S. Bull|John Bull]]

* [[Joe F. Edwards Jr.|Joe Edwards]] – [[STS-89]]

* [[Anthony W. England|Anthony England]] – [[STS-51-F]]

* [[Joe Engle]] – [[Approach and Landing Tests|ALT]], [[STS-2]], [[STS-51I]]

* [[Michael Foale]] – [[STS-45]], [[STS-56]], [[STS-63]], [[STS-84]]/[[STS-86]] [[List of Mir expeditions|(Mir EO-23/24)]], [[STS-103]], [[Soyuz TMA-3]] [[Iss expeditions|(Expedition 8)]]

* [[C. Gordon Fullerton]] – [[Approach and Landing Tests|ALT]], [[STS-3]], [[STS-51-F]]

* [[Fred Haise]] – [[Apollo 13]], [[Approach and Landing Tests|ALT]]

* [[Steven Hawley]] – [[STS-41-D]], [[STS-61-C]], [[STS-31]], [[STS-82]], [[STS-93]]

* [[José M. Hernández|Jose Hernandez]] – [[STS-128]]

* [[Joan Higginbotham]]^{[[File:Pink Venus symbol.svg|8px|♀]]} – [[STS-116]]

* [[Michael S. Hopkins|Michael Hopkins]] – [[Soyuz TMA-10M]] ([[Expedition 37]]/[[Expedition 38|38]]), [[SpaceX Crew-1]] ([[Expedition 64]])

* [[Joseph P. Kerwin|Joseph Kerwin]] – [[Skylab 2]]

* [[Jerry Linenger]] – [[STS-64]], [[STS-81]]/[[STS-84]] [[List of Mir expeditions|(Mir EO-22/23)]]

* [[Stanley G. Love|Stanley Love]] – [[STS-122]]

* [[Shannon Lucid]]^{[[File:Pink Venus symbol.svg|8px|♀]]} – [[STS-51-G]], [[STS-34]], [[STS-43]], [[STS-58]], [[STS-76]]/[[STS-79]] [[List of Mir expeditions|(Mir EO-21/22)]]

* [[Steven Nagel]] – [[STS-51-G]], [[STS-61-A]], [[STS-37]], [[STS-55]]

* [[George Nelson (astronaut)|George Nelson]] – [[STS-41-C]], [[STS-51-D]], [[STS-26]]

* [[James H. Newman|James Newman]] – [[STS-51]], [[STS-69]], [[STS-88]], [[STS-109]]

* [[Steven Smith (astronaut)|Steven Smith]] – [[STS-68]], [[STS-82]], [[STS-103]], [[STS-110]]

* [[William E. Thornton|William Thornton]] – [[STS-8]], [[STS-51-B]]

* [[Richard Truly]] – [[Approach and Landing Tests|ALT]], [[STS-2]], [[STS-8]]

* [[Ed White (astronaut)|Ed White]] – [[Gemini 4]], [[Apollo 1]]

* [[John Young (astronaut)|John Young]] – [[Gemini 3]], [[Gemini 10]], [[Apollo 10]], [[Apollo 16]], [[STS-1]], [[STS-9]]

*2021 [[NASA Astronaut Group 23|Group 23]] – "The Flies"

* [[United States Astronaut Hall of Fame]]

{{reflist|2}}

* [http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_former.html Former NASA Astronaut Corps Members] * [https://www.nasa.gov/content/astronaut-selection-program Astronaut Candidate Program]

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