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Astronaut Search: Pilots Need Not Apply

Sept. 19, 2007 — NASA posted a recruitment notice for more astronauts on Tuesday, but for the first time in the agency's history there will be no separate hiring for pilots.

In one of the most public acknowledgements that change is afoot, NASA's next class of astronauts will be comprised solely of mission specialists and receive training for long-duration missions on the International Space Station.

With the shuttle fleet retiring in three years, NASA will have no ships to pilot in space anyway, with astronauts riding as passengers to the station aboard Russian Soyuz vehicles or perhaps on commercially provided space transports.

The shuttle's replacement, an Apollo-style capsule called Orion, will not be ready to fly until about 2015, leaving a gap of about five years when the United States will be without means to fly in space.

"This selection (of astronauts) will focus mostly on long-duration ISS crews," said Johnson Space Center spokeswoman Kylie Clem. "If we have any pilots, they will maintain their proficiency, but that's not a distinction we're making."

It's a far cry from NASA's roots, when only military pilots were hired as astronauts.

In 1959, the newly created civilian space agency asked the U.S. military services to list members who met specific requirements for spaceflight. Those requirements included jet aircraft pilot experience and engineering training. In addition, candidates couldn't be taller than 5 foot 11 because of limited space in the Mercury capsule. Seven men were selected from a pool of more than 500 candidates.

ASA added nine more pilots in 1962 and another 14 pilots a year later. Scientists were allowed to apply to the corps in 1964. Selections of astronauts for the shuttle program began in 1978 and included both pilots and mission specialists. For the first time, NASA also opened its corps to women.

In recruiting for what will be its 20th group of astronauts, NASA will have no separate category for pilots, though flight experience aboard high-performance aircraft is still desirable. Classroom teaching experience is also valued.

NASA expects to hire between 10 and 15 new astronauts, depending on budget and mission requirements, added NASA spokesman John Ira Petty.