What does it take to become an astronaut? It's a question that's been asked since the start of the Space Age in the 1960s. In those days, pilots were considered the most well-trained professionals, so military fliers were first in line to go to space. More recently· people from a wide range of professional backgrounds -- doctors, scientists, and even teachers - have trained to live and work in near-Earth orbit. Even so, those selected to go to space must meet high standards.
People who want to become astronauts must be in top physical condition. Each country's space program has health requirements for its space travelers. They usually assess a candidate's fitness to withstand some pretty tough conditions. For example, a good candidate must have the ability to endure the rigors of lift-off and to function in weightlessness. All astronauts must have good visual acuity and normal blood pressure. Beyond that, there is no age limit. Most astronauttrainces are between the ages of 25 and 46, although older people have also flown to space later in their careers.
People who go to space are usually self-confident risk-takers, adept at stress management and multitasking. They also need to be able to work as part of a team for any given assignment. On Earth, astronauts are usually required to perform various public relations duties. such as speaking to the public, working with other professionals, and sometimes even testifying before government officials. So, astronauts who can relate well to many different kinds of people are seen as valuable team members.
Often, astronauts have a background as scientists and many have high-level degrees, like Ph. Ds. Others have military training or space industry expertise. Regardless of their background, once an astronaut is accepted into a country's space program, he or she goes through rigorous training to actually live and work in space.