NASA's hiring.
The space agency opened up its astronaut application on Monday and will be accepting applications until February 18th. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in either science, math, or engineering and be a U.S. Citizen. While there are no official age restrictions, according to NASA's FAQ, the average age of an astronaut is 34.
Still, though, it's going to be quite hard to actually become an astronaut. According to ABC, the last time NASA hired an astronaut class only eight were selected out of more than 6,000 applicants.
Expect intense competition: More than 6,000 applied for NASA's last astronaut class in 2013, with only eight picked. It's an elite club, numbering only in the 300s since the original Mercury 7 chosen in 1959.
Future astronauts will have four spacecraft at their disposal: the International Space Station, two commercial crew capsules to get there, and NASA's Orion spacecraft for eventual Mars trips. Pay is between $66,000 and $145,000 a year, and you'll have to move to Houston.
So while the chance of an average Joe with a B.S. in engineering becoming an astronaut is basically impossible, there's still a slight chance.
And for everyone else, there's always Space Camp.
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