Becoming an Astronaut Through the Naval Academy

I've heard some Naval Academy grads have gone on to become astronauts. How does that process work? What steps should I take if I'm interested in pursuing a path from the academy to NASA?

That's a fascinating career path! We've indeed seen various Naval Academy graduates make their mark in space exploration. Here's a sketch of the process:

1. Gain Admission to the United States Naval Academy: Admission to the Naval Academy is competitive and will require a nomination—most often from a Congressman, Senator, or the Vice President, among other methods. A strong candidate typically has strong academic grades, physical fitness, leadership roles, and community service.

2. Earn a Technical Degree: NASA highly favors candidates with a degree in a STEM field. This could be Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, or a related field. The Naval Academy offers majors in several of these areas.

3. Serve in the Military: After graduation from the Naval Academy, you will commission as an officer and serve in the Navy or Marine Corps. Particularly relevant posts for astronaut hopefuls are in Naval Aviation and the Navy's Submarine Force, which allow for specialized training that NASA values, like high-stress decision making, teamwork, and operating complex machinery.

4. Gain Experience: NASA requires at least three years of professional experience. This experience is often gained during military service. Leadership experience, which you'll gain during your military service, is also highly valued.

5. Get Scuba Certified and Pass a NASA Space Physical: Astronauts must be comfortable working in high pressure (literally and figuratively) situations. You would need to pass the NASA long-duration space flight physical.

6. Apply to NASA: NASA holds a call for applications for new astronauts about once every 4 years, though this can vary based on their needs.

It's important to remember that the path to becoming an astronaut is highly competitive and requires immense dedication, so having backup plans related to your interest in space or STEM is advisable. The training to become an astronaut after getting selected takes about 2 years, and only after successful completion of that would you be eligible for spaceflight assignments.

While not required, earn a master's degree or even a doctoral degree in a STEM field can also be beneficial because advanced study can provide a deeper understanding of the technical mechanics or theory behind spaceflight and foster additional skills that can be valuable as an astronaut.