As New Jersey native Scott Kelly continues his year-long stay aboard the International Space Station, the U.S. space agency is looking for its first class of new astronauts since 2011.
Got the right stuff? NASA is looking for astronauts.
As New Jersey native Scott Kelly continues his year-long stay aboard the International Space Station, the U.S. space agency is looking for its first class of new astronauts since 2011.
NASA this week posted a help-wanted ad, seeking applications for a new class of candidates that will be selected in mid-2017. The agency will accept applications from Dec. 14 through mid-February.
Officials said with more human spacecraft in development in the U.S. than at any other time in history, future astronauts are expected to launch again from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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"From pilots and engineers, to scientists and medical doctors, NASA selects qualified astronaut candidates from a diverse pool of U.S. citizens with a wide variety of backgrounds," said NASA on its website. "The next class of astronauts may fly on any of four different U.S. vessels during their careers: the International Space Station, two commercial crew spacecraft currently in development by U.S. companies, and NASA's Orion deep-space exploration vehicle."
Applications for consideration as a NASA astronaut will be accepted at: http://www.usajobs.gov
"This next group of American space explorers will inspire the Mars generation to reach for new heights, and help us realize the goal of putting boot prints on the Red Planet," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
Kelly, who grew up in West Orange, was chosen for the astronaut corps in 1996, when he and his twin brother, Mark Kelly--who both became Navy pilots--were among 35 selected out of more than 2,400 people who applied.
Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
