Astronaut 664 224607920 2008-07-09T17:09:47Z StaticGull 4630363 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/79.77.195.131|79.77.195.131]] to last version by Wertuose (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{otheruses}} {{redirect|Spaceman}} [[Image:Astronaut-EVA.jpg|thumb|250px|Astronaut [[Bruce McCandless II]] using a [[manned maneuvering unit]] outside the U.S. [[Space Shuttle]] ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'' in 1984]] <!--*** DO NOT ADD "TAIKONAUT", "SPATIONAUT" ETC. TO INTRO SECTION - SEE TALK PAGE ***--> An '''astronaut''' or '''cosmonaut''' ({{lang-ru|космона́вт}} {{IPA-ru|kəsmɐˈnaft}}) is a person trained by a [[List of human spaceflight programs|human spaceflight program]] to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a [[spacecraft]]. While generally reserved for professional space travelers, the term is sometimes applied to anyone who travels into space, including scientists, politicians, journalists, and tourists.<ref name="fact">{{Cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/factsheets/pdfs/astro.pdf|title=Astronaut Fact Book|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=[[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]]|year=2006|author=[[NASA]]|format=.pdf|language=English}}</ref><ref name="utah">{{Cite web|url=http://media.www.utahstatesman.com/media/storage/paper243/news/2005/10/21/CampusNews/Former.Astronaut.Visits.Usu-1028932.shtml|title=Former astronaut visits USU|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=The Utah Statesman|year=2005|author=Marie MacKay|language=English}}</ref> ==Definition== [[Image:Astronauts by country date first spaceflight2.PNG|thumb||right|350px|[[Timeline of astronauts by nationality|Countries]] whose citizens have flown in space as of April 2008]] Until 2003, astronauts were sponsored and trained exclusively by governments, either by the military, or by civilian space agencies. However, with the first sub-orbital flight of the privately-funded [[Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne|SpaceShipOne]] in 2004, a new category of astronaut was created: the [[Commercial Astronaut|commercial astronaut]]. With the rise of [[space tourism]], [[NASA]] and the [[Russian Federal Space Agency]] agreed to use the term "[[spaceflight participant]]" to distinguish those space travelers from astronauts on missions coordinated by those two agencies. The criteria for what constitutes human [[human spaceflight|spaceflight]] vary. The [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] (FAI) defines spaceflight as any flight above an altitude of {{km to mi|100}}{{Fact|date=May 2008}}. However, in the [[United States]], professional, military, and commercial astronauts who travel above an altitude of {{km to mi|80}}{{Fact|date=May 2008}} are awarded [[Astronaut Badge|astronaut wings]]. As of [[May 31]], [[As of 2008|2008]], a total of 482 humans from [[Timeline of space travel by nationality|39 countries]]<ref>Counting [[Anousheh Ansari]] as a representative of Iran.</ref> have reached 100km or more in altitude, of which 479 reached [[Low Earth orbit]] or beyond.<ref name="CBSQL">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/democurrent.html|title=Soyuz TMA-12 Quick-Look Data|accessyear=2008|accessmonthday=April 9|publisher=CBS News|year=2008|author=Bill Harwood|language=English}}</ref><ref name="astr">{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/articles/womspace.htm|title=Women of Space |accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|year=2007|author=Encyclopedia Astronautica|language=English}}</ref> Of these, [[List of Apollo astronauts|24 people]] have traveled beyond Low Earth orbit, to either lunar or trans-lunar orbit or to the surface of the moon; three of the 24 did so twice (Lovell, Young and Cernan).<ref name="hundred">{{Cite web|url=http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/factoids/hundred.htm|title=NASA's First 100 Human Space Flights|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref> Under the U. S. definition, 488 people qualify as having reached space.<ref name="stats">{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/articles/aststics.htm|title=Astronaut Statistics - as of 7 February 2008|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|year=2007|author=Encyclopedia Astronautica|language=English}}</ref> Space travelers have spent over 30,400 [[Man hour|person-days]] (or a cumulative total of over 83 years) in space, including over 100 astronaut-days of [[Extra-vehicular activity|spacewalks]].<ref name="stats" /><ref name="void">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/workinginspace/eva_stats.html|title=Walking in the Void|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2004|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref> As of 2008, the man with the longest time in space is [[Sergei Krikalev|Sergei K. Krikalev]], who has spent 803 days, 9 hours and 39 minutes, or 2.2 years, in space.<ref name="skk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/krikalev.html|title=Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev Biography|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4| publisher=NASA| year=2005| author=NASA| language=English}}</ref><ref name="skk2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition11/krikalev_record.html| title=Krikalev Sets Time-in-Space Record| accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2005 |author=NASA |language=English}}</ref> [[Peggy Whitson|Peggy A. Whitson]] holds the record for most time in space by a woman, with 377 days spent in space.<ref name="paw">{{cite web | url = http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/whitson.html | title = "Peggy A. Whitson (Ph.D.)" | work = Biographical Data | publisher = [[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] | author=NASA| accessdate = 2008-05-13}}</ref> == Terminology == {{see also|Astronaut ranks and positions}} In the United States and many other [[English language|English]]-speaking nations, a professional space traveler is called an ''astronaut''. The term derives from the Greek words ''ástron'' (άστρον), meaing "star", and ''nautes'' (ναύτης), meaning "sailor". The first known use of the term "astronaut" in the modern sense was by [[Neil R. Jones]] in his short story ''The Death's Head Meteor'' in 1930. The word itself had been known earlier. For example, in [[Percy Greg]]'s 1880 book ''Across the Zodiac'', "astronaut" referred to a spacecraft. In ''Les Navigateurs de l'Infini'' (1925) of [[J.-H. Rosny aîné]], the word ''astronautique'' (astronautic) was used. The word may have been inspired by "aeronaut", an older term for an air traveler first applied (in 1784) to [[balloon (aircraft)|balloon]]ists. NASA applies the term astronaut to any crew member aboard NASA spacecraft bound for Earth orbit or beyond. NASA also uses the term as a title for those selected to join its Astronaut Corps.<ref name="biopage">{{cite web | last = Dismukes | first = Kim - NASA Biography Page Curator | title = Astronaut Biographies | publisher = [[Johnson Space Center]],[[NASA]] | |Author=NASA|date = 2005-12-15| url = http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/| accessdate = 2007-03-06 }}</ref> ===Russia=== {{main|Soviet space program}} [[Image:Yuri Gagarin official portrait.jpg|thumb|[[Yuri Gagarin]], first person in space (1961) ([[USSR]])]] By convention, an astronaut employed by the [[Russian Federal Space Agency]] (or its [[Soviet space program|Soviet]] predecessor) is called a ''cosmonaut'' in English texts.<ref name="biopage" /> The word is an [[anglicisation]] of the [[Russian language|Russian]] word ''kosmonavt'' (космонавт, {{pronounced|kəsmʌˈnaft}}), which in turn derives from the [[Greek language|Greek]] words ''kosmos'' (κόσμος), meaning "universe", and ''nautes'' (ναύτης), meaning "sailor". For the most part, "cosmonaut" and "astronaut" are synonyms in all languages, and the usage of choice is often dictated by political reasons. On [[March 14]], [[1995]], [[Norman Thagard]] became the first American to ride to space on board a Russian launch vehicle, arguably becoming the first "American cosmonaut" in the process. ===China=== In China, the terms "yǔhángyuán" ({{lang|zh|宇航员}}) or "hángtiānyuán" ({{lang|zh|航天员}}) have long been used for astronauts. The phrase "tàikōng rén" ({{lang|zh|太空人}}, literally "space person") is often used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Official English texts issued by the government of the [[People's Republic of China]] use ''astronaut'' while texts in Russian use ''kosmonavt''.<ref name="rus">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/ceka/rus/xwdt/t216370.htm|title=Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan press-release|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=fmprc.gov.cn|author=реконмендовать другому|language=Russian}}</ref><ref name="rus2">{{Cite web|url=http://ru.china-embassy.org/rus/xwdt/t73142.htm|title=Chinese embassy in Russia press-release|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=ru.china-embassy.org|author=ru.china-embassy.org|language=Russian}}</ref> The term ''taikonaut'' is used by some English-language news media organizations for professional [[Space program of China|space travelers from China]]. The origin of the term is unclear; as early as May 1998, Chiew Lee Yih ({{lang|zh|赵里昱}}) from [[Malaysia]], used it in [[newsgroup]]s, while Chen Lan, almost simultaneously, used it in Western media.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} ===Other terms=== While no nation other than Russia (formerly the Soviet Union), the United States, and China has launched a manned spacecraft, several other nations have sent people into space in cooperation with one of these countries. Inspired partly by these missions, other synonyms for astronaut have entered occasional English usage. For example, the term ''spationaut'' (French spelling: ''spationaute'') is sometimes used to describe French space travelers, from the [[Latin]] word ''spatium'' or "space", and the Malaysian term ''angkasawan'' is used to describe participants in the [[Angkasawan program]]. == Space travel milestones == {{See also|Spaceflight records|Timeline of space travel by nationality}} [[Image:Tereshkova2.jpg|thumb|[[Valentina Tereshkova]], first woman in space (1963) ([[USSR]])]] [[Image:GPN-2000-001005.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Alan Shepard]] aboard [[Freedom 7]]]] The first human in space was Russian [[Yuri Gagarin]], who was launched into space on [[April 12]] [[1961]] aboard [[Vostok 1]]. Records released later indicate Gagarin did not return to Earth in his craft, as required for a certified flight—instead, he bailed out after re-entering the atmosphere and parachuted back, due to safety concerns about the craft's landing systems.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/03/98/gagarin/72184.stm</ref> The first woman was Russian [[Valentina Tereshkova]], launched into space in June 1963 aboard [[Vostok 6]]. [[Alan Shepard]] became the first American and second person in space on [[May 5]], [[1961]], while the first American woman in space was [[Sally Ride]], during [[Space Shuttle Challenger]]'s mission [[STS-7]], on [[June 18]], [[1983]].<ref name="ride1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ride-sk.html|title=Sally K. Ride, Ph.D. Biography|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2006|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref> The first mission to orbit the moon was ''[[Apollo 8]]'', which included [[William Anders]] who was born in [[Hong Kong]], making him the first Asian-born astronaut in 1968. On [[15 October]] [[2003]], [[Yang Liwei]] became China's first astronaut on the [[Shenzhou 5]] spacecraft. The Soviet Union, through its [[Intercosmos]] program, allowed people from other [[socialist]] countries to fly on its missions. An example is [[Vladimir Remek]], a [[Czechoslovak]], who became the first non-Soviet European in space in 1978 on a Russian [[Soyuz launch vehicle|Soyuz]] rocket.<ref name="enc">{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/astros/remek.htm|title=Vladimir Remek Czech Pilot Cosmonaut|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|year=2007|author=Encyclopedia Astronautica|language=English}}</ref> On [[July 23]], [[1980]], [[Pham Tuan]] of [[Vietnam]] became the first [[Asian people|Asian]] in space when he flew aboard [[Soyuz 37]].<ref name="tuan">{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/flights/salt6ep7.htm|title=Salyut 6 EP-7|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|year=2007|author=Encyclopedia Astronautica|language=English}}</ref> Also in 1980, [[Cubans|Cuban]] [[Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez]] became the first person of [[African]] descent to fly in space (the first person born in Africa to fly in space was [[Patrick Baudry]], in 1985).<ref name="mendez">{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/astros/tamendez.htm|title=Tamayo-Mendez|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|year=2007|author=Encyclopedia Astronautica|language=English}}</ref><ref name="buadry">{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/astros/baudry.htm|title=Baudry|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|year=2007|author=Encyclopedia Astronautica|language=English}}</ref> In 1988, [[Abdul Ahad Mohmand]] became the first [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] to reach space, spending nine days aboard the [[Mir]] space station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/international/english/mohmand_abdol.htm|title=Biographies of International Astronauts|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=August 11|publisher=Space Facts|year=2007|author=Joachim Wilhelm Josef Becker and Heinz Hermann Janssen|language=English}}</ref> With the larger number of seats available on the Space Shuttle, the U.S. began taking international astronauts. In April 1985, [[Taylor Wang]] became the first Chinese-born person in space; later that year, [[Rodolfo Neri Vela]] became the first Mexican-born person in space.<ref name="taylorbio">{{Cite web |url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/wang-t.html|title=Taylor G. Wang Biography| accessyear=2007| accessmonthday=October 4| publisher=NASA| year=1985| author=NASA| language=English}}</ref><ref name="taylor">{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/astros/wang.htm|title=Taylor Wang| accessyear=2007| accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|year=2007|author=Encyclopedia Astronautica|language=English}}</ref><ref name="vela">{{Cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/nerivela-r.html|title=Rodolfo Neri Vela (Ph.D.) Biography|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=1985|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref> In 1991, [[Helen Sharman]] became the first Briton to fly in space.<ref name="bbcsharmon">{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/18/newsid_2380000/2380649.stm|title=1991: Sharman becomes first Briton in space|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=BBC News|year=2005|author=BBC News|language=English}}</ref> In 2002, [[Mark Shuttleworth]] became the first citizen of an African country to fly in space, as a paying spaceflight participant.<ref name="mark">{{Cite web|url=http://www.africaninspace.com/home/mission/logs/1/20020610.shtml|title=First African in Space|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=HBD|year=2002|author=africaninspace.com|language=English}}</ref> ===Age milestones=== The youngest person to fly in space is Russian [[Gherman Titov]], who was 25 years old when he flew [[Vostok 2]]. (Titov was also the first person to suffer [[space sickness]]).<ref name="age">{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/6/newsid_2944000/2944638.stm|title=1961: Russian cosmonaut spends day in space|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=BBC News|year=2007|author=BBC News|language=English}}</ref><ref name="titov">{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.com/peopleinterviews/titov_obit_000921.html|title=Russia Cosmonaut Gherman Titov Dies|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Space.com|year=2000|author=Anatoly Zak|language=English}}</ref> The oldest person who has flown in space is [[John Glenn]], who was 77 when he flew on [[STS-95]].<ref name="glenn">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/bios/glennbio.html|title=John Herschel Glenn, Jr. (Colonel, USMC, Ret.) NASA Astronaut|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2007|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref> The longest stay in space was 438 days, by Russian [[Valeri Polyakov]].<ref name="stats" /> As of 2006, the most spaceflights by an individual astronaut is seven, a record held by both [[Jerry L. Ross]] and [[Franklin Chang-Diaz]]. The furthest distance from Earth an astronaut has traveled was 401,056 km, during the [[Apollo 13]] emergency.<ref name="stats" /> ===Non-government milestones=== The first non-governmental space traveler was [[Byron K. Lichtenberg]], a researcher from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] who flew on [[STS-9]] in 1983.<ref name="lichten">{{Cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lichtenberg-bk.html|title=Byron K. Lichtenberg Biography|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2002|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref> In December 1990, [[Toyohiro Akiyama]] became the first paying space traveler as a reporter for [[Tokyo Broadcasting System]], a visit to [[Mir]] as part of an estimated $12 million ([[USD]]) deal with a Japanese TV station, although at the time, the term used to refer to Akiyama was "Research Cosmonaut".<ref name="smith">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/GAL114/SpaceRace/sec500/sec535.htm|title=Paying for a Ride|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum|year=2007|author=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum|language=English}}</ref><ref name="bbc1">{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/sci_tech/2001/mir/1990.stm|title=Mir Space Station 1986-2001|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=BBC News|year=1990|author=BBC News|language=English}}</ref><ref name="de">{{Cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/international/english/akiyama_toyohiro.htm|title=Akiyama|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Spacefacts|year=1990|author=Spacefacts|language=English}}</ref> Akiyama suffered severe space-sickness during his mission, which affected his productivity.<ref name="bbc1" /> The first self-funded [[space tourist]] was [[Dennis Tito]] onboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz TM-3 on [[28 April]] [[2001]]. ===Self-funded travelers=== {{main|Space tourist}} The first person to fly on an entirely privately-funded mission was [[Mike Melvill]], piloting [[SpaceShipOne flight 15P]] on a sub-orbital journey, although he was a [[test pilot]] employed by [[Scaled Composites]] and not an actual paying space tourist.<ref name="eve">{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/SS1_pilot_040620.html|title=Pilot Announced on Eve of Private Space Mission |accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Space.com|year=2004|author=Leonard David|language=English}}</ref><ref name="rci">{{Cite web|url=http://www.roycecarlton.com/speakers/melvill.html|title=Michael Melvill, First Civilian Astronaut, SpaceShipOne|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Royce Carlton Inc.|year=2007|author=Royce Carlton Inc.|language=English}}</ref>. Five others have paid to fly into space: #[[Dennis Tito]] (American): [[April 28]] – [[May 6]], [[2001]] #[[Mark Shuttleworth]] (South African / British): [[April 25]] – [[May 5]], [[2002]] (ISS) #[[Gregory Olsen]] (American): [[October 1]] – [[October 11]], [[2005]] (ISS) #[[Anousheh Ansari]] (Iranian / American): [[September 18]] – [[September 29]], [[2006]] (ISS) #[[Charles Simonyi]] (Hungarian / American): [[April 7]] – [[April 21]],[[2007]] (ISS) == Training == {{see also|Astronaut ranks and positions}} The first NASA astronauts were selected in 1959.<ref name="comet">{{Cite web|url=http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/HAS/cirr/ss/3/3.cfm|title=Astronaut Candidate Training|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2006|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref> Early in the space program, military jet test piloting and engineering training were often cited as prerequisites for selection as an astronaut at NASA, although neither John Glenn nor Scott Carpenter (of the [[Mercury Seven]]) had any university degree, in engineering or any other discipline at the time of their selection. Selection was initially limited to military pilots.<ref name="training">{{Cite web|url=http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/astronauts/training.html|title=Selection and Training of Astronauts|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=1995|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref><ref name="nolen">{{cite book |author=Nolen, Stephanie |title=Promised The Moon: The Untold Story of the First Women in the Space Race |publisher=Penguin Canada |location=Toronto |year=2002 |pages=page 235 |isbn=0-14-301347-5}}</ref> The earliest astronauts for both America and Russia tended to be [[jet fighter]] pilots, and were often [[test pilot]]s. Once selected, NASA astronauts go through 20 months of training in a variety of areas, including training for [[extra-vehicular activity]] in a facility such as NASA's [[Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory]].<ref name="fact" /><ref name="training" /> Astronauts-in-training may also experience short periods of [[weightlessness]] in aircraft called the "[[vomit comet]]", the nickname given to a pair of modified [[KC-135]]s (retired in 2000 and 2004 respectively, and replaced in 2005 with a [[McDonnell Douglas C-9|C-9]]) which perform [[parabolic]] flights.<ref name="comet" /> Astronauts are also required to accumulate a number of flight hours in high-performance jet aircraft. This is mostly done in [[T-38 Talon|T-38 jet aircraft]] out of [[Ellington Field]], due to its proximity to the [[Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center|Johnson Space Center]]. Ellington Field is also where the [[Shuttle Training Aircraft]] is maintained and developed, although most flights of the aircraft are done out of [[Edwards Air Force Base]]. ===NASA candidacy requirements=== * Be citizens of the United States.<ref name="program">{{Cite web|url=http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/content/broch00.htm|title=Astronaut Candidate Program|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2007|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref><ref name="comet" /> * Pass a strict physical examination, and have a near and distant visual acuity correctable to 20/20. Blood pressure, while sitting, must be no greater than 140 over 90. ====Commander and Pilot==== * A [[bachelor's degree]] in [[engineering]], [[Biology|biological science]], [[Physics|physical science]] or [[mathematics]] is required, and a [[graduate degree]] is desired, although not essential. * At least 1,000 hours flying time as Pilot-in-Command in jet aircraft. Experience as a [[test pilot]] is desirable. * Height must be 5 ft 4 in to 6 ft 4 in (1.63 to 1.93 m). ====Mission Specialist==== * Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics, as well as at least three years of related professional experience. *Applicant's height must be 5 ft 2 in to 6 ft 4 in (1.57 to 1.93 m). ====Mission Specialist Educator==== [[Image:Educator Astronauts.jpg|right|thumb|Mission Specialist Educators Lindenberger, Arnold, and Acaba during a parabolic flight.]] {{main|Educator Astronaut Project}} * Bachelor's degree with teaching experience, including work at the kindergarten through 12th grade level. Advanced degree not required, but is desired.<ref name="announce">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/sep/HQ_07196_astronaut_recruitment.html|title=NASA Opens Applications for New Astronaut Class|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2007|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref> [[Educator Astronaut Project|Mission Specialist Educators]], or "Educator Astronauts", were first selected in 2004, and as of 2007, there are three NASA Educator astronauts: [[Joseph M. Acaba]], [[Richard R. Arnold]], and [[Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger]].<ref name="nexgen">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/preparingtravel/ascan2004.html|title='Next Generation of Explorers' Named|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2004|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref><ref name="ed">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2004/oct/HQ_n04160_new_ascans.html|title=NASA's New Astronauts Meet The Press|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4| publisher=NASA| year=2004| author=NASA| language=English}}</ref> [[Barbara Morgan]], selected as back-up teacher to [[Christa McAuliffe]] in 1985, is considered to be the first Educator astronaut by the media, but she trained as a mission specialist.<ref name="morgan1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/morgan.html|title=Barbara Radding Morgan - NASA Astronaut biography|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2007|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref> The Educator Astronaut program is a successor to the [[Teacher in Space]] program from the 1980s.<ref name="fly">{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/space_educator_030203.html|title=NASA Assures That Teachers Will Fly in Space |accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=Space.com|year=2007|author=Tariq Malik|language=English}}</ref><ref name="program">{{Cite web|url=http://wwwedu.ssc.nasa.gov/neap.asp|title=Educator Astronaut Program|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=October 4|publisher=NASA|year=2005|author=NASA|language=English}}</ref> ==Insignia== At NASA, people who complete astronaut candidate training receive a silver [[Astronaut wings|lapel pin]]. Once they have flown in space, they receive a gold pin. U.S. astronauts who also have active-duty military status receive a special qualification badge, known as the [[Astronaut Badge]], after participation on a spaceflight. The [[United States Air Force]] also presents an Astronaut Badge to its pilots who exceed 50 miles (80 km) in altitude. ==Deaths== As of the year 2008, eighteen astronauts have lost their lives in in connection with spaceflights. Thirteen of them were American, three were Russian, one was Ukrainian, and one was Israeli. == See also == {{Portal | Spaceflight | RocketSunIcon.svg}} {| | colspan=3 style="vertical-align:top" | * [[Astronaut Hall of Fame]] * [[Commercial Astronaut]] * [[List of astronauts by name]] * [[List of astronauts by selection]] * [[Timeline of astronauts by nationality]] * [[List of human spaceflights]] * [[List of space travelers by name]] * [[List of space travelers by nationality]] * [[List of spacewalks and moonwalks]] * [[X-15]] program || | colspan=3 style="vertical-align:top" | * [[Spaceflight records]] * [[Shirley Thomas (USC professor)|Shirley Thomas]], author of ''Men of Space'' series (1960-1968) * [[Cosmonautics Day]] * [[Yuri's Night]] * [[Fallen Astronaut]] * [[List of fictional astronauts]] * [[Moon Landing]] * [[Mercury 13]] - A group of 13 women who were tested, but never flew in space. |} == References == {{reflist|2}} == External links == {{Wiktionarypar|cosmonaut|spationaut|astronaut|taikonaut}} {{Commonscat|Astronauts}} * [http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/outreach/jobsinfo/astronaut101.html NASA: How to become an astronaut 101] *[http://astronauts.nasa.gov/content/InternationalSpaceAgencies.htm List of International partnership organizations] * [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9009998/astronaut Encyclopaedia Britannica, Austronaut] * [http://www.astronautix.com/astrogrp/phaonaut.htm Encyclopedia Astronautica: Phantom cosmonauts] * [http://www.collectspace.com/sightings/home.html collectSPACE: Astronaut appearances calendar] * [http://www.spacefacts.de spacefacts Spacefacts.de] * [http://www.space-nasa.com/ Space and Astronautics News] * [http://space.kursknet.ru/cosmos/english/other/stat_kk.sht Manned astronautics: facts and figures] [[Category:Astronauts| ]] [[af:Ruimtevaarder]] [[ar:رائد فضاء]] [[az:Astronavt]] [[bn:নভোচারী]] [[bs:Astronaut]] [[bg:Космонавт]] [[ca:Astronauta]] [[cv:Космонавт]] [[cs:Kosmonaut]] [[da:Astronaut]] [[de:Raumfahrer]] [[es:Astronauta]] [[eo:Kosmonaŭto]] [[eu:Astronauta]] [[fa:فضانورد]] [[fr:Spationaute]] [[fy:Romtefarder]] [[gl:Astronauta]] [[ko:우주비행사]] [[hr:Astronaut]] [[id:Antariksawan]] [[ia:Astronauta]] [[it:Astronauta]] [[he:טייס חלל]] [[ka:კოსმონავტი]] [[ku:Astronot]] [[la:Astronauta]] [[lv:Kosmonauts]] [[lt:Astronautas]] [[hu:Űrhajós]] [[ms:Angkasawan]] [[nl:Ruimtevaarder]] [[ja:宇宙飛行士]] [[no:Romfarer]] [[nn:Romfarar]] [[oc:Astronauta]] [[nds:Astronaut]] [[pl:Astronauta]] [[pt:Astronauta]] [[ro:Astronaut]] [[ru:Космонавт]] [[stq:Ruumtefierder]] [[scn:Astronauta]] [[simple:Astronaut]] [[sk:Kozmonaut]] [[sl:Astronavt]] [[fi:Astronautti]] [[sv:Rymdfarare]] [[te:వ్యోమగామి]] [[th:นักบินอวกาศ]] [[vi:Nhà du hành vũ trụ]] [[tg:Кайҳоннавард]] [[tr:Uzayadamı]] [[uk:Астронавт]] [[zh:宇航员]]