Being an astronaut really means being part of a team.
A significant number of applicants do not meet medical standards, and still others withdraw after gaining a complete understanding of the very demanding job. Based on the information collected during this investigation, ASB will choose its final candidates and pass that recommendation on to the NASA Administrator; he or she will make the final choices. Once selected, candidates begin a rigorous training program.
As with any other career, being an astronaut has drawbacks. One commonly shared among astronauts is the intense workload and the lack of time for their families. "With this job you could work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and still not get everything done. You have to strike a balance--that is the key," says Reightler. "There can be long hours that are unpredictable. Travel is involved especially during the busiest times -- three months before and two months after a launch," agreed Ochoa.
And if an applicant has hopes for a large salary -- say, comparable to those in the private sector -- they should look elsewhere. Astronauts begin their salary in accordance with the U.S. Government pay scale at GS-11 status (approximately $39,000) and top off at GS-14 status (approximately $78,000). That's not a whole lot for a dangerous job. But for those who dream of going into space, the pay is one of the lesser considerations.
The work is sometimes long and arduous and it is not unusual for a candidate to arrive to work at 7:30 a.m. and not return home until after 11:00 p.m. "When you have a spouse and you don't see the sun on them ... that gets tired pretty fast," said Bolden. "But these are hurdles that you have to deal with in any relationship, in any career," said Ochoa, adding, "When you know it's only for a certain time frame and it'll get better after a while, then it's easier to handle. It's such a good job ... you don't mind putting in the extra time. My husband and I work it out ... but that's a problem working couples face everywhere."
Most people would consider being an astronaut a high-risk occupation, and with many astronauts going home to a spouse, children, or both, it would be reasonable to think that the fear and anxiety of those risks would constantly be on their minds. "Not so," said the three astronauts. "We train for all different kinds of scenarios -- most of which aren't very good. When you have a pretty good idea of what you should be doing in an emergency, it tends to reduce those emotions," said Ochoa.
NASA is a much more diverse place than when it started, but there's a common thread. "The one thing [astronauts at NASA] have in common is the way that they got here -- not by all taking the same path, but by seeking out the things that they found interesting and doing them with great gusto -- that's what works!" Reightler says.
