Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Logo
Position Title
Astronaut Candidate
Agency
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Announcement Number
NASA-10711462-BD Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, March 2, 2020 to Tuesday, March 31, 2020
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.

Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.

Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?

(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
Other Skills/Activities
1. Please describe any other skills you possess or activities you participate in that provide additional support to your application to become an astronaut candidate. Examples might include scuba diving, sports, music, languages, computer software/hardware tools, machinery, volunteer work, etc. (limit characters)
Previous Astronaut Candidacy
1. Have you applied to a previous astronaut candidate position? (limit characters)
2. If you have applied to a previous astronaut candidate position, were you interviewed? (limit characters)
Military Service
1. Although veteran's documents are not being collected at this point, NASA intends to apply veterans' preference among candidates in later stages of this selection process. Do you qualify for veterans' preference? (For more information, see https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans-preference/) (limit characters)
2. If you are a current active duty member of the Armed Forces, please select your branch of military or uniformed service. If you are a Reservist, please indicate such below. (limit characters)
3. If you are a current active duty member of the Armed Forces or a Reservist, please select your current rank. If you are not an active duty service member, select "Not applicable." (limit characters)
Education
1. Provide the month and year (e.g. 05/2017) in which you:
  1. Completed your qualifying Master's degree or Ph.D., or related doctoral program AND/OR
  2. Completed at least two years of qualifying graduate coursework in a Ph.D. or related doctoral program AND/OR
  3. Completed an M.D., D.O., or related doctoral degree AND/OR
  4. Completed or will complete (by June 2021) nationally or internationally recognized Test Pilot School
(limit characters)
2. From which institution is your highest qualifying degree? (limit characters)
3. What was/is your major field of study? (limit characters)
Assessment 1
The following questions will be used to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. Please review the vacancy announcement for a detailed description of those requirements. Initial eligibility will be verified based on your resume, transcripts, and responses to this questionnaire. All responses are final once your application has been submitted.  (limit characters)
All applicants must meet at least ONE of the Basic Education requirements in question 1 to be considered for this position. Qualifying international Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education is allowed so long as you submit proof of appropriate foreign education equivalency (see announcement for more details). Applicants may also fulfill this requirement by having completed a nationally or internationally recognized Test Pilot School (TPS) program or by current enrollment in such a program if completed by June 2021.  TPS graduates/enrollees must also possess a bachelor's degree or higher in an appropriate STEM field.

Education must be verifiable. You must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts, which show a qualifying major field, degree conferred or qualifying degree progress; or test pilot school certification and enrollment. While a bachelor's degree (or less) is not qualifying alone, you must submit ALL STEM related transcripts with your application.

Note:  The following degree fields, while related to engineering and the sciences, are NOT considered qualifying:
  • Degrees in Technology (Engineering Technology, Aviation Technology, Medical Technology, etc.)
  • Degrees in Psychology (except for Clinical Psychology, Physiological Psychology, or Experimental Psychology, which are qualifying)
  • Degrees in Nursing
  • Degrees in Exercise Physiology or similar fields
  • Degrees in Social Sciences (Geography, Anthropology, Archaeology, etc.)
  • Degrees in Aviation, Aviation Management, or similar fields
(limit characters)
1. Do you meet at least ONE of the education requirements below?
  • I have completed a master's degree (or foreign equivalent) at an accredited college or university with major study in an appropriate technical field of engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics. OR
  • I have completed at least two years (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours) in an accredited Ph.D. or related doctoral program (or foreign equivalent) with major study in an appropriate technical field of engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics. OR
  • I have completed an M.D., D.O. or related doctoral degree (or foreign equivalent) in an accredited college or university. OR
  • I have completed or am currently enrolled in a Test Pilot School (TPS) program (nationally or internationally recognized) and will have completed this program by June 2021. If TPS is my only advanced technical degree, I have also completed a bachelor's degree or higher (or foreign equivalent) at an accredited college or university with major study in an appropriate technical field of engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics.
(limit characters)
2. Which best describes your highest level of qualifying education? (limit characters)
In addition to the Basic Education requirement above, all applicants must meet the Sub-Discipline Specialized Experience requirements under one of the designated sub-disciplines: Pilots, Flight Test, Biological and Medical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering and Operations. You must select the discipline you best qualify for based on the majority of your work experience.

For each discipline, applicants must have a minimum of 2 years (or 1,000 Pilot-in-Command hours for Pilots) of progressively responsible, professional experience after the completion of an appropriate technical field degree(s). Experience could have been gained after the completion of a qualifying bachelor's degree, though this does not negate the requirement to still possess a higher level degree. All applicants must meet the designated work experience requirements associated with each sub-discipline by the closing date of this announcement. Full-time work experience is 35 or more hours worked per week, and must be stated clearly on your resume.
(limit characters)
3. From the descriptions below, please select the sub-discipline and corresponding experience that qualifies you for this position. To qualify for the discipline you select, your resume must clearly reflect this experience. Teaching experience, including experience at the K-12 levels, is acceptable if it was in a related technical field and you also meet the initial education requirement. While you may qualify for multiple disciplines, only one selection below is permitted. (limit characters)
4. Selectees will be required to submit to urinalysis prior to appointment to screen for illegal drug use. If selected for the position, incumbents are subject to random drug testing throughout their career. Are you willing to submit to drug testing prior to appointment and throughout your service in the astronaut program? (limit characters)
5. Sufficiently good vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform the duties satisfactorily. Distant and near visual acuity must be correctable to 20/20 in each eye. The use of glasses is acceptable. The refractive surgical procedures of the eye, PRK and LASIK, are allowed. Note that such surgeries are permitted, but not required for potential applicants. Are you willing to submit to further vision evaluations? (limit characters)
6. Applicants and astronauts are evaluated for medical and psychiatric conditions that would make the individual a hazard to flight safety, crew coordination or mission execution. If selected for the position, an incumbent must successfully complete periodic medical and psychiatric examinations throughout their career with NASA. Are you willing to submit to medical and psychiatric evaluations prior to appointment and throughout your service in the astronaut program? (limit characters)
7. The duties of this position require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking, running, standing, heavy lifting, crouching, crawling, and exposure to inclement weather. Are you willing to perform arduous physical activities as part of your duties? (limit characters)
8. The duties of this position require participation in flight operations in a jet aircraft, including multiple flights to simulate microgravity and adjustment to zero gravity environments. Are you willing to undergo flight training and participate in flight operations? (limit characters)
9. A background security investigation is required for this position. If the incumbent fails to meet the requirements for a successful background investigation, he or she may be subject to removal from the position. Are you willing to submit to a background security investigation? (limit characters)
10. Astronaut candidates will be required to pass a swimming test during the first month of training. Are you willing to submit to a swimming test? (limit characters)
11. To simulate microgravity in space, astronaut candidates and astronauts participate in training that requires extended time underwater (up to 8 hours a day), using SCUBA gear or the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU, or spacesuit). Are you willing to spend extended time training underwater? (limit characters)
12. Training for missions is arduous and takes approximately two to three years. This training requires extensive travel, including long periods in other countries training with NASA's international partners. Are you willing to participate in extended travel? (limit characters)
13. Long-duration missions can last 12 months or longer. Astronauts are subject to isolation, confinement, extreme conditions (including austere living conditions), and separation from loved ones. Are you willing to be deployed to space for long-duration missions? (limit characters)
14. Astronaut candidates and astronauts live and work in small or confined spaces for prolonged periods of time. Are you willing to spend extended periods of time in small or confined spaces? (limit characters)
15. Astronaut candidates and astronauts sometimes work in dangerous and life-threatening situations. Are you willing to work in potentially dangerous situations? (limit characters)
16. NASA astronauts appear before a variety of groups to inform the general public about the U.S. space program. This includes high schools and universities, community organizations, businesses and associations, military organizations, politicians and officials from the U.S. Government. Are you willing to appear before these groups (as well as others), and present information on behalf of NASA and the U.S. space program? (limit characters)
17. Graduation from the Astronaut Candidate Program will require successful completion of the following: spacecraft systems training, Extravehicular Activity (EVA) skills training, robotics skills training, Russian language training, aircraft flight readiness training, and team skills training, among others. Are you willing to undergo and complete such training? (limit characters)
Select the appropriate answer to the statement below. Failure to provide an answer will result in your not being considered for this position. (limit characters)
18. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document, assessment, or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibility may be cancelled; I may be denied an appointment; or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated and that responding "No" or providing no response to this item will result in my not being considered for this position. (limit characters)