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Astronaut candidates will spend approximately two years training on the basic skills required to be an astronaut - from spacewalking and robotics to leadership and teamwork skills. Upon completing training, they will join the active astronaut corps and become eligible for spaceflight assignment. Until assigned a spaceflight, they will have responsibilities within the astronaut office ranging from supporting their fellow astronauts in space to advising on the development of new spacecraft.
Learn more about this agency03/05/2024 to 04/16/2024
$152,258 - $152,258 per year
The pay rates shown reflect the 2024 pay schedules and are an approximation. These rates will be adjusted to reflect any increase in 2025.
AD 00
Few vacancies in the following location:
No
No
76% or greater - Extensive travel required
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Term - Selected astronaut candidates are placed on 30-month time limited appointments and upon successful completion of astronaut candidate training, will be placed on permanent appointments.
Full-time
Excepted
00 - Pay increases tied to training and mission-specific milestones.
No
Yes
NASA-12288466-24-AS
779261100
Major duties of the astronaut position include, but are not limited to:
Education must be attained at an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to satisfy qualifications. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/search.aspx. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. Note: If you are selected for this position, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day. You must meet all qualification requirements by 04/16/2024, the closing date of this announcement, with Test Pilot School completion by June 2025, if applicable. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs, and that such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or that full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Translated transcripts are required.
Drug Testing: Selectees will be required to submit to a drug test to screen for illegal drug use. As a condition of continued employment, the incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
Background Investigation: Selectees will be required to undergo and pass a thorough background investigation prior to a final offer of employment.
Fitness Testing: Selectees will be required to pass an Agency Physical Fitness Test prior to a final offer of employment. As a condition of continued employment, the incumbent will be subject to periodic fitness testing and must pass the Agency Physical Fitness Test requirements.
Medical and Psychiatric Examination: Selectees will be required to undergo and pass a thorough medical and psychiatric examination prior to a final offer of employment. As a condition of continued employment, the incumbent is subject to periodic medical and psychiatric examinations and must be able to meet the medical and psychiatric standard requirements for the position.
Swimming Test: Astronaut Candidates will be required to pass a swimming test during the first month of training.
Long Duration Missions: Long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station can last 12 months or longer. Training for long-duration missions is very arduous and takes approximately two to three years. This training requires extensive travel, including long periods away in other countries training with NASA's international partners.
Hazardous Environment: Due to the strenuous nature of the astronaut duties and the associated training programs, selected candidates will be exposed to physically taxing activities (e.g. being in confined spaces, being under water for extended periods of training, and working in potentially dangerous situations).
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire
This is an interdisciplinary position. The position may be established in any one of a variety of federal occupations/series: engineering, science, or mathematics. The specific classification will depend on the qualifications of the selectees.
Selected astronaut candidates are placed on 30-month time limited appointments and upon successful completion of astronaut candidate training, will be placed on permanent appointments.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applying to the Astronaut Candidate program is a multi-stage process. Initially, you will be evaluated based on how well you meet the minimum qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your minimum qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide to the online application, which assess critical requirements of the astronaut job. Based on the answers you provided on the initial online assessment, you may be asked to complete additional online assessments. During subsequent stages of the selection process, you may be asked to complete in-person assessments, simulations, role plays and interviews.
Throughout the selection process, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate competencies related to the astronaut job such as:
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package by the closing date of this announcement. Your application packet must include:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must build and attach a resume using the USAJOBS resume builder, complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and questionnaire, and submit the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
Based on your application and your responses to the online application, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire Assessment system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments may be completed at any time throughout the announcement open period but no later than 48 hours following the close of this announcement. Note: It is to your benefit to apply early to ensure you have adequate time to complete your application and assessments. Currently, the assessment window will close on Thursday, April 18 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Although not anticipated, if the application window is extended, the deadline for completing these assessments would be 48 hours after the new close date at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.
Due to the anticipated high number of applicants and the multiple stages in the assessment process, status notifications will be limited throughout the selection process. Please note, requests for feedback will only be provided to those invited to the interview stage. You may check your initial application status by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking the "Track this Application" link for this announcement. The amount of notices each applicant receives may vary.
The selection process is estimated to take approximately one (1) year to complete. NASA anticipates announcing a new class of astronauts in the Summer 2025. Final notification of your status will be sent at that time. Multiple selections may be made under this announcement. Selected candidates will report for duty at the Johnson Space Center in the Fall of 2025.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/779261100. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
NASA is accepting applications for the next astronaut class! As part of the Artemis Generation, astronauts will train for spaceflights bound for multiple destinations, including the Moon. Astronauts are also key in activities such as supporting International Space Station operations from Mission Control and providing input on the designs of the spacesuits, spacecraft, space stations and habitats that will be needed when we send humans back to the Moon and beyond.
For more than 23 years, astronauts have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge, demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth to benefit life on Earth, and preparing us for more distant exploration.
While NASA is leading Artemis, international partnerships play a vital role in achieving a sustainable and robust presence on the Moon. Astronauts will launch on the Space Launch System rocket and new Orion spacecraft, docking Orion at the Gateway lunar outpost before taking a new landing system to the Moon's surface, gaining new experiences on and around the Moon to prepare NASA to send the first humans to Mars.
To date, NASA has selected 360 astronaut candidates to fly on its increasingly challenging missions to explore space. More are needed to propel exploration forward as part of the Artemis missions and beyond.
