34 lines
1.7 KiB
Plaintext
34 lines
1.7 KiB
Plaintext
"6_3_2_2.TXT" (1619 bytes) was created on 07-06-92
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BACKGROUND ON THE ASTRONAUT PROGRAM
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SOURCE: Information Summaries
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Astronaut Fact Book
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February, 1992
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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selected the first
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group of astronauts in 1959. From 500 candidates having the required jet
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aircraft flight experience and engineering training as well as height below 5
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feet 11 inches, 7 military men became the Nation's first astronauts. The
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second and third groups chosen included civilians who had extensive flying
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experience. By 1964, requirements had changed and emphasis was placed on
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academic qualifications; in 1965, 6 scientist astronauts were selected from a
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group of 400 applicants who had a doctorate or equivalent experience in the
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natural sciences, medicine, or engineering. The group named in 1978 was the
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first of Space Shuttle flight crews and was composed of 15 pilots and 20
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mission specialists; 6 of the 35 were women and 4 were members of minorities.
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Since then, 5 additional groups have been selected with an even mix of pilots
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and mission specialists.
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In total, 195 astronauts have been selected in the 13 groups from 1959 through
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1990; there are 97 astronauts currently in the program; 78 have retired,
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resigned or been reassigned; and 20 are deceased.
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Payload specialists are career scientists or engineers selected by their
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employer or country for their expertise in conducting a specific experiment or
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commercial venture on a Space Shuttle mission. Their names are not included in
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the Astronaut Fact Book.
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NASA accepts applications for the Astronaut Candidate Program on a continuing
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basis and selects candidates as needed.
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