Why This Astronaut Candidate Job Matters
Join the <strong class="text-gray-900">Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center</strong> and make an impact.
Astronaut Candidate Job Overview
To qualify, applicants must meet BOTH the Basic Education and Specialized Experience requirements outlined below. Note: All STEM transcripts (official or unofficial) must be submitted. Foreign education requires proof of equivalency. BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT All applicants must meet at least ONE of the Basic Education requirements to be considered for this position. Qualifying international Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education is allowed as long as you submit proof of appropriate foreign education equivalency (see below for foreign education details). To verify the education requirement, you must submit copies of official or non-official STEM related transcripts with your application showing a related STEM major field and date conferred, or Test Pilot School (TPS) certification/enrollment from a nationally or internationally recognized program. While a bachelor's degree (or less) is not qualifying alone, you must submit ALL STEM related transcripts with your application. The following degree fields, while related to engineering and the sciences, are NOT considered qualifying: Degrees in Technology (Engineering Technology, Aviation Technology, Medical Technology, etc.) Degrees in Psychology (Exceptions: Clinical Psychology, Physiological Psychology, or Experimental Psychology, ARE qualifying) Degrees in Exercise Physiology or similar fields Degrees in Social Sciences (Geography, Anthropology, Archaeology, etc.) Degrees in Aviation, Aviation Management, or similar fields You must meet the Basic Education Requirement through ONE of the methods described below: Master's Degree: You must have completed a master's degree (or foreign equivalent) in an accredited college or university with major study in an appropriate technical field of engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics. (You must submit copies of official or non-official STEM related transcripts with your application showing major field and date degree was conferred.) Doctoral Coursework: You must have completed at least two academic years (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours) in an accredited Ph.D. or related doctoral degree program (or foreign equivalent) with major study in an appropriate technical field of engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics. (You must submit copies of official or non-official STEM related transcripts with your application showing major field of study and completed credit hours.) Medical Degree: You must have completed a Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Physician Assistant (PA), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), or related medical degree (or foreign equivalent) from an accredited college or university. (You must submit copies of official or non-official STEM related transcripts with your application showing date degree conferred.) Test Pilot School (TPS): You must have completed or be currently enrolled in a TPS program (nationally or internationally recognized) and will have completed this program by July 2027 (Must submit proof of completion or enrollment). If TPS is your only advanced technical degree, you must have also completed a bachelor's degree or higher (or foreign equivalent) at an accredited college or university with major study in an appropriate technical field of engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics. (You must submit copies of official or non-official STEM related transcripts with your application showing major field and date degree conferred) SUB-DISCIPLINE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT When you apply, you must select the discipline you best qualify for based on your most relevant work experience that shows proof of meeting the requirements for that sub-discipline. General Experience Rule: Unless applying as a Pilot, applicants need a minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience gained after completing their qualifying degree (experience gained after a bachelor's degree counts, provided they eventually earned the required higher degree). K-12 teaching experience in a related technical field is acceptable if you also meet the initial basic education requirement. Sub Discipline Options: A. Pilot: Applicants must meet ONE of the following flight-hour requirements based on the aircraft type listed. Initial flight training hours will not be counted. Time controlling unmanned aircraft system does not count toward pilot flight time. (Requires submission of the Pilot Qualifications Form). High-Performance Jet: 750 hours of Pilot-In-Command (PIC) time. Other Fixed Wing Aircraft: 1500 total hours, 750 of which must be of which must be Pilot-In-Command (PIC) time. Rotary Wing Aircraft: 1000 hours total, 300 of which must be Pilot-In-Command (PIC) time. B. Flight Test: Requires TPS completion/enrollment (finished by July 2027) PLUS 3 years of related flight test experience. This sub-discipline can be applied for those with aviation experience outside of those listed in the Pilot sub-discipline (e.g., flight test engineers, navigators, weapons systems officers) (Requires submission of the Pilot Qualifications Form). (Must be demonstrated in resume/CV) C. Medical- to qualify, you must: Have at least 3 years of professional experience after degree completion in a professional medical field of study. Time in residency can count towards experience and must be completed by July 2027. You must certify that this experience was gained in a field related to this sub-discipline and be able to provide additional certification upon request. (Must be demonstrated in resume/CV) D. Biological and Medical Science - to qualify, you must: Have at least 3 years of professional experience after degree completion in a field related to Biological and Medical Sciences. You must certify that this experience was gained in a field related to this sub-discipline and be able to provide additional certification upon request. (Must be demonstrated in resume/CV) E. Physical Science - to qualify, you must: Have at least 3 years of professional experience after degree completion in a field related to Physical Science. You must certify that this experience was gained in a field related to this sub-discipline and be able to provide additional certification upon request. (Must be demonstrated in resume/CV) F. Engineering - to qualify, you must: Have at least 3 years of professional experience after degree completion in a field related to Engineering. You must certify that this experience was gained in a field related to this sub-discipline and be able to provide additional certification upon request. (Must be demonstrated in resume/CV) G. Operations - to qualify, you must: Have at least 3 years of professional experience after degree completion in a field related to Operations. This experience must be in high-consequence environments that require real-time decision making and intensive teamwork, where errors carry irreversible and physical risk to personnel, missions, or vehicles. Examples include flight test, saturation or mixed-gas deep sea or cave diving, orbital or launch mission control, nuclear submarine operations, rescue operations, or special operations with direct action (this is not an exhaustive list). Note: Applicants with test experience who have not attended TPS should apply under this category. You must certify that this experience was gained in a field related to this sub-discipline and be able to provide additional certification upon request. (Must be demonstrated in resume/CV)