Share
Looking to harvest the space explorers of tomorrow from more than 3,500 hopeful applications, American space administration NASA has this week selected nine people for its 2009 astronaut candidate class.
Future astronauts selected by NASA. Image: Bernt Rostad/Flickr.
Described by NASA assistant administrator Bill Gerstenmaier as “a very talented and diverse group,” the lucky candidates will “play very important roles for NASA in the future.”
Those selected from the several thousand entrants are, of course, not without related qualifications. Specifically, their collective professions include test pilots for both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, a technical intelligence officer for the CIA, and also a flight controller for the International Space Station.
“In addition to flying in space, astronauts participate in every aspect of human spaceflight, sharing their expertise with engineers and managers across the country,” explained Gerstenmaier regarding what awaits the nine candidates.
“We look forward to working with them as we transcend from the shuttle to our future exploration of space, and continue the important engineering and scientific discoveries aboard the International Space Station,” he added.
Despite the elation likely felt by the lucky candidates, the input of nine has been somewhat overshadowed by news that United Space Alliance, which manages the space shuttle program for NASA, is to layoff some 400 employees as it begins the process of retiring the stalwart fleet of vehicles.
Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter.
Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group.
Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter
Advertising
Comment on this Story