Thinking of Becoming an Astronaut?

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Not every astronaut has a PhD or is a member of MENSA. The minimum education requirement to be eligible as an astronaut candidate is a Bachelor's degree. Which of the following degrees would NOT be considered a good choice for an astronaut candidate? Bachelor of Science in Biology Bachelor of Art in Photography Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

2. Unless you hold a PhD, professional experience after college is required to be selected as an astronaut candidate. If you hold a Master's degree, two years are required, and three years for person with a Bachelor's Degree. Not every astronaut is a test pilot or engineer. Which of the following would be accepted as appropriate professional experience? President of the United States Editor for funtrivia.com High School Teacher Pizza Delivery

3. Military service is not necessary to become an astronaut but it may be helpful. About two thirds of the United States Astronaut Corps from the Mercury Program through the Space Shuttle Program have had military backgrounds. Of the men who flew in the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Skylab Programs, which branch of the military was most represented? The United States Army The United States Air Force The United States Navy The United States Coast Guard

4. When a candidate applies for the Astronaut Corps, they can apply either as a Pilot, or a Mission Specialist. Pilots fly the spacecraft and are eligible to become a Commander, while Mission Specialists perform spacewalks, scientific experiments, and operate the robotic arms of either the International Space Station, or Space Shuttle. For Pilot candidates, the minimum pilot time experience is 1,000 hours in a jet aircraft. Flying which of the following would NOT count towards this experience? F-15 Eagle SR-71 Blackbird Cessna 404 X-15

5. An astronaut candidate for the International Space Station or Crew Exploration Vehicle program must be between 62 and 75 inches (157–190cm) tall. Which of the following NBA players would be eligible based solely on this requirement? Dikembe Mutombo Muggsy Bogues Yao Ming Hakeem Olajuwan

6. Good vision is a must for any astronaut. What is NASA’s vision requirement for an astronaut candidate? 20/20 uncorrected, each eye 20/20 corrected, each eye The ability to see through walls 20/40 uncorrected, at least one eye

7. An Astronaut has to be able to remain calm in tough situations which require quick thinking. It would be a disaster if an astronaut had a heart attack during launch. Therefore, an astronaut candidate’s blood pressure must remain under 140/90 in a sitting position to pass the physical. Which astronaut is famous for being so strangely calm that he actually fell asleep on the launch pad waiting to launch? Neil Armstrong John Glenn Buzz Aldrin Gordon Cooper

8. In case of a water landing, any astronaut must be able to survive in the water. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for an astronaut to pass their physical? Must be a certified SCUBA diver The ability to tread water with 150 lb strapped to their back Must be able to tread water continuously for at least 10 minutes Must be able to swim 3 lengths of a 25-m pool without stopping, followed by three lengths in a full flight suit and tennis shoes

9. Once a person gets selected as an Astronaut Candidate, or ASCAN, how long is the training program they must pass before they are eligible to get inducted into the Astronaut Corps? 2 years 3 months 1 year 6 months

10. To be eligible for NASA’s Astronaut Corp, you must be a United States citizen. However, there are several International Astronauts which train and fly along side the Americans, sponsored by their home countries. Who was the first non-American to fly on the Space Shuttle? East German Sigmund Jahn Canadian Marc Garneau Saudi Salman al-Saud West German Ulf Merbold