Britons in space: how do I become an astronaut?
The UK has reversed its policy of unmanned space missions, meaning Britons can now become astronauts
After decades of unmanned space exploration, the British government has announced a new strategy to get Britons to the International Space Station and beyond.
The UK has historically taken a pragmatic approach to space, preferring more cost-effective robotic operations and commercial satellite missions to those involving astronauts.
Now, however, science minister Jo Johnson has signalled a change to that policy.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"From new advances in healthcare to getting our young people really excited about science, human spaceflight has the potential to deliver a huge range of benefits here on Earth," said Johnson.
Tim Peake of Chichester, a former army helicopter pilot, will be the first Briton to benefit from the policy shift, with his November mission to the International Space Station fully financed by the UK government.
After Peake returns, other British citizens are expected to follow, The Times reports. So what does it take to be an astronaut?
Brains
According to Nasa's list of astronaut requirements, the first qualification all astronauts need is a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. The US space agency says that it prefers advanced degrees and that "quality of academic preparation is important".
Fitness
As well as education, Nasa looks for physically fit candidates for its astronaut programme, with blood pressure at 140/90 measured in a sitting position. Prospective commanders or pilots must also have good eyesight, with vision no worse than 20/100, correctable to 20/20 in each eye.
Height
People who are either too tall or too short need not apply to become an astronaut. Nasa pilots must come within a height range of 5'1" and 6'2" and mission specialists (those astronauts with duties that generally do not include flying) must be between 4'9" and 6'3".
Experience
Nasa pilots must also have more than 1,000 hours of flight time under their belt before applying to the agency's recruitment program.
Nasa will also sometimes seek people with specific training required for a particular mission, which it calls "payload specialists". These astronauts may have different experience to astronauts who have been been put through Nasa's official astronaut candidate program, but they must still meet many of the same physical requirements.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - April 27, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - natural gas, fundraising with Ted Cruz, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Aid to Ukraine: too little, too late?
Talking Point House of Representatives finally 'met the moment' but some say it came too late
By The Week UK Published
-
5 generously funny cartoons on the $60 billion foreign aid package
Cartoons Artists take on Republican opposition, aid to Ukraine, and more
By The Week US Published
-
14 recent scientific breakthroughs
In Depth From photos of the infant universe to an energy advancement that could save the planet
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The hunt for Planet Nine
Under The Radar Researchers seeking the elusive Earth-like planet beyond Neptune are narrowing down their search
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Winchcombe meteorite: space rock may reveal how water came to Earth
The Explainer New analysis of its violent journey confirms scientific theories on the origin of our planet's H2O
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why the Moon is getting a new time zone
The Explainer The creation of 'coordinated lunar time' is part of Nasa's mission to establish a long-term presence on Earth's only natural satellite
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
We're in the golden age of space exploration
In depth To infinity and beyond!
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
All the major moon landings so far
The Explainer One giant leap for mankind
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Jupiter's Europa has less oxygen than hoped
speed read Scientists say this makes it less likely that Jupiter's moon harbors life
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Magnolias in space': why scientists have created the world's first wooden satellite
Under The Radar New Japanese probe could help tackle 'graveyard of space junk' encircling Earth
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published