1 . There have been 560 trained astronauts .
Aside from her studies at school , she has also learned public speaking and routinely takes on speaking opportunities at space and STEM-related events . For example , NASA invited her to be on the MER 10 ( Mars Explorations Rovers ) panel in Washington , D . C . to discuss future missions to Mars live on NASA TV . She also has learned how to dive underwater and is considered an aquanaut . She skydives and is also a pilot .
Talking with Alyssa , it is hard to imagine how much training has been packed into 21 years of life .
2 . Not all astronauts have gone to space . Some have gone to low earth orbit ( LEO ), and others have gone to the International Space Station ( ISS ) and the Moon .
3 . They come from many different countries .
4 . The NASA requirements to become an astronaut are : Be a U . S . citizen , possess a master ’ s degree in a STEM field from an accredited institution , have at least two years of related professional experience obtained after degree completion or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time on jet aircraft , and be able to pass the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical , be able to pass the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical .
5 . 18,000 applicants submitted last time NASA issued a call for new astronauts
Online resource : https :// www . nasa . gov / stem-edresources / how-to-be-an-astronaut . html
SPRING 2023 — ISSUE NO . 02 9