astronauts_onhold_010404 CAPE CANAVERAL -- NASA put on hold the applications of astronaut hopefuls for the first time in 13 years, the agency said on Tuesday.
An abundance of astronauts has something to do with the decision -- almost half of those available to fly have never been in space.
NASA spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said the Astronaut Selection Office in Houston delayed the selections indefinitely.
"It tells me they are very uncertain about the future of the space program and do not know where funds are going to be committed," said Bruce Mahone, president of the Aerospace Industries Association.
Purdue University has graduated 22 astronauts, pictured here (not pictured is Andrew Feustel). But with an abundance of astronauts, NASA decided to put a hold on new applications.
"Rather than commit to another class, they want to see what will happen."
NASA traditionally has announced astronaut selections every two years, but it is not a requirement, space agency officials said Tuesday.
"We actually don't have a commitment to have a class every two years," Hawley said. "We have simply chosen this time not to do another selection."
This has happened only twice before -- in 1988 and, because of
the Challenger disaster, in 1986. This year's decision also comes after major budget cuts and overspending on Space Station Alpha. "There are a number of factors for this:
space station overruns and a smaller space station crew; we do not have a new NASA administrator; and the fact that the new administration has not made their intentions clear in civilian space," Mahone said. "It's similar to investors: it is uncertain so they will sit it out and see what happens." In addition to uncertainty, NASA has more astronauts than it has available seats on the shuttle.
Hawley said the decision was partly based on the low attrition rates of astronauts and a reduced flight rate.
The 2002 budget recommends six shuttle flights per year. With seating enough for seven, that means a maximum of 42 astronauts flying per year.
"It tells me they are very uncertain about the future of the space program and do not know where funds are going to be committed."
From 1959 to 2000, NASA has selected 18 groups of space travelers, totaling 310 astronauts. The U.S. has launched 251 men and women into space, including two people from Capitol Hill.
Today's
astronaut corps has 154 astronauts, 69 of whom have never flown in space. It takes two years of training and then a lot of waiting before many astronauts make it into space. None of the astronauts selected in 1998 have ridden the shuttle while only seven of 1996's 35-member class have flown in space.
While candidates wait their turn, other astronauts get to fly multiple missions.
Astronaut John Young, 70, was trained in 1962 and has flown six times. But Hawley said NASA will continue to send up first-time astronauts.
"Clearly you need to fly someone for the first time," Hawley said. "You need to get those people trained and the only way people can get that experience is to fly."
She said people wanting to be astronauts are still welcome to apply.
NASA requires that astronaut applicants have a bachelor's degree in engineering, science or mathematics, and an advanced degree is preferred. They must be able to pass a physical examination and must stand between 4 foot 10 inches and 6 foot 4 inches.
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