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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsAn astronaut is a person who travels into space as part of a crew; NASA also uses the term for members of its astronaut corps, including people preparing for future missions. NASA astronauts conduct research aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and train for exploration missions. NASA’s route has specific citizenship, education, experience, and medical requirements—but they are NASA requirements, not universal rules for every astronaut.
What is an astronaut?
NASA describes the word “astronaut” as coming from Greek words meaning “star sailor.” In NASA’s usage, it can refer both to people launched as crew aboard NASA spacecraft bound for orbit and beyond and to people selected into the agency’s astronaut corps. Someone selected as a candidate is not yet flight-qualified: candidates first complete training before becoming eligible for flight assignments. NASA: Astronauts
Definitions and qualification rules can differ among space agencies and operators. The requirements below describe NASA’s program, not a worldwide standard.
What do NASA astronauts do?
NASA astronauts carry out science research aboard the ISS and prepare for exploration missions. NASA says its latest astronaut candidates are being trained to support both low Earth orbit operations and Artemis missions. Flight work is only part of the role: preparation involves learning to operate equipment, work as a crew, and perform tasks in demanding environments. NASA: Astronaut Selection Program
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Spaceflight also requires managing health and performance risks. NASA-STD-3001 establishes agency-wide technical requirements intended to minimize those risks for flight crews. NASA says how its standards apply is tailored to the mission profile and procurement strategy; the standard is not a single checklist that makes every mission identical. NASA Spaceflight Human System Standard, Volume 1: Crew Health
What does it take to become a NASA astronaut?
NASA’s published eligibility criteria require applicants to meet all of the following. They apply to NASA’s selection program and may change in a future selection cycle. NASA: Become an Astronaut
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- Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen.
- Education: Hold a qualifying master’s degree in a STEM field or an accepted equivalent.
- Experience: Have at least three years of related professional experience after completing the qualifying degree, or meet NASA’s qualifying pilot-in-command flight-hour route.
- Medical qualification: Pass the NASA long-duration spaceflight physical.
NASA also emphasizes leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. A pilot or military career is not the only route: the criteria include a professional-experience option as well as the pilot-in-command route.
How competitive is NASA astronaut selection?
NASA reports that more than 8,000 people applied in its 2024 cycle and that it selected 10 candidates. On its current selection-program page, accessed in 2026, NASA lists 35 active astronauts and 370 people selected since 1959. These figures describe NASA’s program, not the total number of astronauts worldwide. NASA selects groups as needed rather than on a guaranteed hiring schedule. NASA: Astronaut Selection Program
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How does astronaut training work?
After selection, candidates undergo nearly two years of training before becoming eligible for flight assignments, according to NASA’s announcement of its 2025 class. The curriculum develops technical, physical, and operational skills for work in space and on missions beyond low Earth orbit. NASA: 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class
Skills in the 2025 candidate curriculum
- Robotics and simulated spacewalks
- Land and water survival
- Geology and foreign language
- Space medicine and physiology
- High-performance jet flying
NASA’s Johnson Space Center has also described candidate instruction on radiation exposure, the effects of microgravity on the body, space food and nutrition, and ISS exercise equipment. These subjects help candidates understand the environment and systems they may encounter; the 2025 curriculum details do not establish that every future class will have an identical program. NASA: Astronaut Candidates Get to Work at Johnson Space Center
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- Approximate Space mission toy sizes are 2” to 3 1/8”. package Dimensions: 14” L x 2.5” W x 1.5” H
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- For ages 3 and up. Made of phthalate-free and lead-free materials. These astronaut figurines are easy to clean with soap and water
How do I apply to NASA’s astronaut program?
NASA’s selection page says applications are not currently being accepted and that the 2024 application cycle closed on April 16, 2024. Application windows and criteria can change, so check NASA’s current selection and eligibility pages for the status of a future cycle rather than assuming a fixed schedule. NASA: Astronaut Selection Program
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