Becoming a NASA astronaut: record-smashing 18,300 Americans apply to be astronauts

NASA's astronaut candidate program involves a selection process based on work experience, teamwork, communication skills, and personality traits. Selected candidates undergo a two-year training program to learn spacecraft systems, teamwork, Russian language, and spacewalking. Graduates are assigned to missions on the International Space Station, NASA's Orion, Boeing CST-100 Starliner, or SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Where are the top candidates for NASA's astronaut program interviewed?

• Marshall Space Flight Center

• Ames Research Center

• Johnson Space Center

• Kennedy Space Center

Which of the following is NOT a criterion for selecting NASA astronaut candidates?

• Work experience

• Teamwork abilities

• Physical fitness

• Communication skills

What language do candidates learn during NASA's two-year training program?

• Chinese

• Russian

• German

• French

Which skill is emphasized in NASA's astronaut training program?

• Underwater diving

• Piloting commercial aircraft

• Spacewalking

• Mountain climbing

To which spacecraft might astronauts be assigned after completing the program?

• Space Shuttle

• Hubble Space Telescope

• Apollo Lunar Module

• SpaceX Crew Dragon