1,000 hours in a jet plane?!

[MJR]

Since the "how the heck do I get 1000 hours" part has been answered, I'll look instead at this part.

How do you know that you will be accepted to the AFA? They have very strict entrance requirements. Remember also that not everyone who joins the Air Force (not even everyone who goes through the AFA) can be a pilot. Nor can all Air Force pilots be astronauts.

How old are you? If you're between 11 and 15 (or possibly older, but if you're much older you won't have much time), I would strongly recommend you look into joining a local cadet squadron of Civil Air Patrol. It's a very good way to get yourself a "leg up" into the Air Force, and can help you in deciding whether or not you actually want to join, if you're still on the fence. Plus, it can get you flying lessons for much cheaper than you could elsewhere.


So you won't have stuff to shoot down? The bad guys have shown that they're plenty capable of shooting you down without an air force.

That $20 million bird you're flying can be brought down by a sub-$100,000 man-portable heat-seeker.

It is possible that I could be shot down but most people could evade. Anyways, if I want to be a mission specialist, what should I be doing to guarentee that will get that spot?

 

[Thunder Chicken]

I wouldn't ever do that. I love aviation reguardless if its NASA or the Air Force. Say if instead I wanted to be a mission specialist. I wouldn't have to fly, but I would need to study physical science, or somewhere around the mathmatics area. Would that be an easier path to take?

Being strictly a pilot doesn't count for too much in the astronaut corps. Backgrounds in engineering and physics and math would serve you well (even if you just stayed in the AF). Even shuttle PLTs and CDRs have pretty diverse backgrounds and resumes - lots of flying but lots of other things too.

Look through the NASA bios on their website and look at the resumes: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/

One thing to keep in mind - these people worked pretty damned hard in a lot of different disciplines, and even if they never became astronauts, they would be leading professionals in their disciplines. Don't study engineering or anything else just because you think it puts you closer to being an astronaut. If you love maths and science and engineering and writing and such things, go for it and be a professional in those fields, and if you can then become an astronaut, excellent. But if you can't win a slot in the astronaut corps, you still will have a great career and can do a lot of great things, maybe with the space program, maybe in technology.

 

[MJR]

I guess I should major in engineering or math. What happens then?

 

[Hielor]

It is possible that I could be shot down but most people could evade. Anyways, if I want to be a mission specialist, what should I be doing to guarentee that will get that spot?

You can evade 99.9% of missiles and still take that one up the tailpipe--all it takes is one.

As for mission specialist: You can't do anything to guarantee you'll become an astronaut. There are less than 400 total American astronauts in the history of the space program out of thousands and thousands. However, to increase your chances, do some searching around on the internet to find out what NASA looks for. Specifically:

http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/content/AstroCandbro_sm.pdf

has a list of specific requirements to meet, and

http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/default.htm

is the primary page to go to for most details.

 

[MJR]

By the way, how many G forces do you get on launch?

 

[Hielor]

In the shuttle, the max Gs an astronaut will experience gets up to around 3, toward the end of the flight, I think. Keep in mind though that during launch, these are sustained Gs, while in an airplane, you only experience the G-forces during fancy maneuvers.

 

[MJR]

Oh ok.

 

[Bj]

Keep in mind though that during launch, these are sustained Gs, while in an airplane, you only experience the G-forces during fancy maneuvers.

Except in AF jet maneuvers, its up to 8 Gs.

But if you make it past the military training then you don't have to worry so much about the rockets max Gs, mostly because to pass military standards, you have to stay out of g-LOC

 

[Mission_CDR]

I have very similar interests as MJR, besides doing well in school, getting flight experience, and being in good shape what could I do to improve my chances of being an astronaut? (my hopes of doing this are pretty low considering how many people are like me)

 

[n72.75]

When you do 12 and 14 hour missions for the airforce the time adds up quick

 

[MJR]

I have very similar interests as MJR, besides doing well in school, getting flight experience, and being in good shape what could I do to improve my chances of being an astronaut? (my hopes of doing this are pretty low considering how many people are like me)

I'm the same as you. But I think I am stronger than most average teenagers. When I am around 17-18 I will be extremely in shape. I am also very intelligent, and once I turn 14 later this month I will be able to fly glider planes. I am still confused what to do though to be an astroaut. If I change my mind and want to be a mission specialist then I guess I'll get a PhD or Masters in engineering. Then I will have to take the training course for NASA and most likely pass it and then interviews about me. So I guess that is what its like for mission specialists.

 

[joeybigO]

I'm the same as you. But I think I am stronger than most average teenagers. When I am around 17-18 I will be extremely in shape. I am also very intelligent, and once I turn 14 later this month I will be able to fly glider planes. I am still confused what to do though to be an astroaut. If I change my mind and want to be a mission specialist then I guess I'll get a PhD or Masters in engineering. Then I will have to take the training course for NASA and most likely pass it and then interviews about me. So I guess that is what its like for mission specialists.

You don't necessarily have to attend the Academy, nor Annapolis to go to NASA, there are some colleges that have a ROTC program that would help you get in. Such as UTEP and Purdue which have some of the finest Aerospace programs in the U.S.

I would highly recommend you to look at what the future brings, they will more than likely keep the MS rating. However being that said in the Constellation program, flight slots will become slim pickings. So to stand out at wherever you are, is a plus. PhD in whatever you are going for is a great plus, with your 1,000 + flight hours.

I think somewhere in the application it states, "Since astronaut slots are such a (something) higher education is preferred".

 

[MJR]

So if I go to Purdue and join the Aerospace program, what am I to expect? Do I study aerospace engineering? But regaurding that, I defenitly want a PhD and I will work hard at what I do to excell past other people. If I still want to be a PLT or CMD then I guess I will join the Air Force academy. But if not I'll check out some other aerospace programs.

 

[Moonwalker]

Only 1.000 hours for becomming a NASA astronaut? I think this is the very minimum requirement (to get a full Airline Transport Pilot Licence you need at least 1.500 hours, while most experienced pilots have 20.000 hours and up, but that's another topic).

I would never join the air force only for becomming an astronaut. The chances for becomming an astronaut are rather minor if you don't study engineering stuff or natural sciences too. In other words: being an average fighter pilot is not enough. You need to kick youself into the elite of people NASA is looking for. It's not impossible of course, but it's very hard and a lot of luck to be on top of the list (just being on the list doesn't mean a lot really). And it's a long way too. Until you are almost 40 years old...

 

[joeybigO]

So if I go to Purdue and join the Aerospace program, what am I to expect? Do I study aerospace engineering? But regaurding that, I defenitly want a PhD and I will work hard at what I do to excell past other people. If I still want to be a PLT or CMD then I guess I will join the Air Force academy. But if not I'll check out some other aerospace programs.

Very important people came from Purdue university and went on to be commanders.

One very important graduate is Neil Armstrong.

 

[Eagle]

I would never join the air force only for becomming an astronaut. The chances for becomming an astronaut are rather minor if you don't study engineering stuff or natural sciences too. In other words: being an average fighter pilot is not enough. You need to kick youself into the elite of people NASA is looking for. It's not impossible of course, but it's very hard and a lot of luck to be on top of the list (just being on the list doesn't mean a lot really). And it's a long way too. Until you are almost 40 years old...

Very true, and there are zero guarantees in that path. Your undergraduate and graduate GPA needs to be excellent (3.8 and up). Pilot slots are difficult at best, and the Air Force in the near term is reducing the available slots.

Then of course assuming you earn a pilot slot and hold a nice GPA you're going to have to be not only an excellent pilot, but a great Officer too. Don't get the wrong impression that you need to do 'extracurriculars' to cross t's and dot i's, but you will need to be very proactive in everything you do.

And that depends on if NASA decides to have open astronaut slots available when you are.

I do not want to discourage you, but this is one of the most difficult paths to take. Don't do it unless you are willing to be only a pilot, or even merely a line officer. Service before self.

 

[Hielor]

MJR: I would strongly recommend you look into joining a Civil Air Patrol cadet squadron.
http://www.cap.gov/ for info; look for a squadron near you; use the "For Students" link. It's like Boy Scouts, except co-ed and focused entirely on aviation, aerospace, and the Air Force.

 

[replicant]

It will go by faster than you think. Not sure about the military, but I average about 70 hours per month. 5,000 hours total now. 3,000 in jets, 800 in turboprops. Took about 7 years of being a professional pilot to accumulate it. The real question is how much turbine PIC time they want. That may take you more time to get.

Good luck

 

[Hielor]

The real question is how much turbine PIC time they want. That may take you more time to get.

According to NASA's brochure, they want at least 1000 hours jet PIC if you're applying through the pilot track.

 

[MJR]

Very important people came from Purdue university and went on to be commanders.

One very important graduate is Neil Armstrong.

I'll check out Purdue's aerospace program when I am around 16. If I get accepted to the AFA then I guess I'll do that. I might also look at AFROTC. Thanks for all your helpful comments. If I make it I'll thank everyone.