The NASA Astronaut Candidate Announcement is out!

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/779261100

Closes 4/02/2024

by Kathryn Troutman, March 23, 2024, Potomac, MD

Upon the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, I remembered one of my most interesting clients from 2017 who applied for the NASA Astronaut position. I wrote to him to see what happened with his application. Here is his response:

“Kathryn! Gosh, nice to hear from you. I’m not sure if I sent this to you, but even though I was not selected as an astronaut, I did use that same resume to be accepted into the NASA HERA program! I There are four missions per year, each with four participants. Test subjects are treated just like actual astronauts, eating the same food, working the same basic schedule, complete with 24 hour manned “mission control”. We would be evaluated on our response to casualty events, sleep deprivation, dealing with up to 30 minute round trip transmission delays, and much more.”
Greg is pictured above.

Does this sound like an appealing Federal Career path for you? See below my tips for how to begin your application for NASA ASTRONAUT !

2024 USAJOBS APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

NO. 1, YOU MUST USE THE USAJOBS BUILDER
FOR YOUR RESUME SUBMISSION

Step 1 – Research Federal Jobs – Research the Astronaut application process:

Summary: At Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center 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.

Step 2 – Networking – Who Do You Know? Do you know any one at NASA? Space Program? Could help. Watch YouTubes and read articles from Astronauts.

Step 3 – Research jobs on USAJOBS –
Astronaut Candidate position is open until 4/02. Apply and see what happens.

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/779261100

Step 4 – What are Your Core Competencies?

Here are the core competencies as described in the USAJOBs announcement.

Step 5 – Get ready for written application materials to demonstrate the competencies above.

Additionally, written application materials will be evaluated by subject matter experts using the competencies above, as well as:

Step 6 – Do you meet the Basic Education Requirements?

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
All applicants must meet at least ONE of the Basic Education requirements to be considered for this position. Qualifying international Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education is allowed as long as you submit proof of appropriate foreign education equivalency (see below for foreign education details).

To verify the education requirement, you must submit copies of official or non-official transcripts with your application showing a related STEM major field and date conferred, or Test Pilot School certification/enrollment from a nationally or internationally recognized program. While a bachelor’s degree (or less) is not qualifying alone, you must submit ALL STEM related transcripts with your application.

The following degree fields, while related to engineering and the sciences, are NOT considered qualifying:

Step 7 – Do you meet the Basic Sub-Discipline Specialized Experience requirements? Choose your Sub-Discipline.

In addition to the Basic Education requirement, all applicants must meet the Sub-Discipline Specialized Experience requirements below under one of the designated sub-disciplines: Pilots, Flight Test, Medical Doctors, Biological and Medical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering and Operations. You should select the discipline you best qualify for based on the majority of your work experience.

For each discipline, applicants must have a minimum of 3 years (or 1,000 Pilot-in-Command hours with at least 850 hours in high performance jet aircraft for Pilots) of progressively responsible, professional experience after the completion of appropriate technical field degree(s). Experience could have been gained after the completion of a qualifying bachelor’s degree, though this does not negate the requirement to still possess a higher-level degree.

While you may qualify for multiple disciplines, only one selection below is permitted. Teaching experience, including experience at the K-12 levels, is acceptable if it was in a related technical field and you also meet the initial education requirement.

Specialized Experience
A. Pilot Discipline – to qualify, you must:

OR
B. Flight Test Discipline – to qualify, you must:

OR
C. Medical Doctor Discipline – to qualify, you must:

OR
D. Biological and Medical Science Discipline – to qualify, you must:

OR
E. Physical Science Discipline – to qualify, you must:

OR
F. Engineering and Operations Discipline – to qualify, you must:

Step 8 – Write your Federal Resume with the USAJOBS Resume Builder – for Astronaut Candidate.

TIPS FOR RESUME WRITING FOR THE ASTRONAUT APPLICATION:

1. Use the Outline Format to feature important knowledge, skills, and abilities for a Human Test subject and the Astronaut position.
WORK HISTORY – two parts:
OUTLINE FORMAT WITH ALL CAP KEYWORDS. See Below.
Write about your job duties with the following HEADLINES before each paragraph. Use ALL CAPS for certain keywords to improve the readability of the USAJOBS resume format.

LEADERSHIP / TEAM LEAD
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
ROBOTICS ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING / DESIGN
RESEARCH & DESIGN
LEAD ENGINEERING
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY & OCCUPATION SAFETY
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SPEAKER / BRIEFER
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
SYSTEMS THINKING

2. Add MAJOR PROJECTS.
The projects should include specific projects that will demonstrate your skills and past performance. This is critical to prove that you have performed the skills you just wrote in the resume. A specific risk, robot, engineering project would be great. What was the name of the project? What were the challenges, your actions, and the results? Each project should be 150-200 characters and describe your skills and results.

EDUCATION: STEM majors. Include college, degree, major, significant courses, projects, skills. Descriptions of capstone projects, major engineering or science projects, including thesis, methods and outcomes.

OTHER ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS: Sports, marathons, sailing competitions, camping, any isolationist projects, mountain climbing, extreme sports, cycling, bodybuilding, wellness interests. Any vehicle modelling, including propulsion and movement (legos, trains, airplanes, aircraft, cars, race cars, drones)

Volunteer activities, which will demonstrate strength, emotional intelligence, team building, human performance interests, disaster or emergency management skills and experiences. Mechanical interests and hobbies, equipment skills; gaming, robotics. Arthroscopic experience (surgeons can apply).

LANGUAGES: Do You speak Russian?

USAJOBS BUILDER: Use it. Mandatory.

Step 9 – Any flight experience? Fill out a special form for Pilot and Flight Test sub-disciplines.

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/jf603_summary_of_aeronautical_experience.pdf?emrc=53d212

Step 10 –The Questionnaire – Review the job-related questionnaire before you apply. Samples of the questionnaire:

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12288466

FOR ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS, YOU WRITE A LIST OF YOUR SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES:
Please describe any other skills you possess or activities you participate in that provide additional support to your application to become an astronaut candidate. Examples might include scuba diving, sports, music, languages, computer software/hardware tools, machinery, volunteer work, etc.

Other questions in the questionnaire:
Astronaut Candidates will be required to pass a swimming test during the first month of training. Are you willing to submit to a swimming test?

11.To simulate microgravity in space, astronaut candidates and astronauts participate in training that requires extended time underwater (up to 8 hours a day), using SCUBA gear or the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU, or spacesuit). Are you willing to spend extended time training underwater?
A. Yes
B. No
12. Training for missions is arduous and takes approximately two to three years. This training requires extensive travel, including long periods in other countries training with NASA’s international partners where family members may not always be able to join. Are you willing to participate in extended travel and periods away from home?
A. Yes
B. No
13. Long-duration missions can last 12 months or longer. Astronauts are subject to isolation, confinement, extreme conditions (including austere living conditions), and separation from loved ones. Are you willing to be deployed to space for long-duration missions?
A. Yes
B. No
14. Astronaut candidates and astronauts live, work, and train in remote, isolated, small, or confined spaces for prolonged periods of time. Are you willing to spend extended periods of time in remote, isolated, small, or confined spaces?
A. Yes
B. No
15. Astronaut candidates and astronauts sometimes work in dangerous and life-threatening situations. Are you willing to work in potentially dangerous situations?
A. Yes
B. No
16. NASA astronauts appear before a variety of groups to inform the public about the U.S. space program and international cooperation. This includes schools and universities, community organizations, businesses and associations, military organizations, politicians, and officials of the U.S. and partner Governments. Are you willing to appear before these groups (as well as others), and present information on behalf of NASA and the U.S. space program (even if you may be presenting information in conflict with your personal opinions or views)?
A. Yes
B. No
17. Graduation from the Astronaut Candidate Program will require successful completion of the following: spacecraft systems training, Extravehicular Activity (EVA) skills training, robotics skills training, Russian or other language training, aircraft flight readiness training (flying in high performance aircraft), technical training with commercial space partners, and team skills training, among others. Completion of all elements takes approximately 2 years. Are you willing to undergo and complete such training?
A. Yes
B. No
18. There are multiple factors, some of which are outside of NASA’s control, that are considered when identifying launch opportunities. NASA cannot guarantee if or when an astronaut is assigned to or will be able to execute a mission. Are you willing to join the astronaut corps not knowing how long you must wait to be assigned to a mission or if you will be assigned a mission at all?
A. Yes
B. No
19. Do you understand and accept work hours are irregular and may require nights, weekends, holidays, shifting sleep cycles, and working longer than typical 8-9-hour periods to support operations when necessary?
A. Yes
B. No

Step 11 – Apply for the Astronaut position and Track and Follow-up for Status.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.

All application documentation must be received by the closing date of the announcement in order to be considered and have a complete application. Documentation mailed or emailed to the Astronaut Selection Office will not be considered. All previous applicants MUST reapply and complete the entire application process. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12288466

Step 12 – USA Hire Assessment Situational Judgement Test – takes 2.5 hours.

You will receive a link to the USA Hire Assessment after you click APPLY. Read about it here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments

Step 13 – Track and Follow Up on your Application Status.

Follow your application in your USAJOBS application track. Find out if your references have been contacted. If you don’t get selected for this application, find out what you can improve, and apply again. Most Astronauts apply for the position multiple times.

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 Houston, TX in the Fall of 2025.

Step 14 – Interview for the Astronaut Candidate Position.

Astronaut interview will be multiple stages:
Pre-interview by phone
Formal interview with panel
Multiple medical and psychological tests
Many physical tests
More tests.
Just keep going and find out your results. Hopefully, you will pass the interviews and examinations. If not, apply again; improve your results.

Try and try again. Most astronauts applied up to 15 times and kept trying. Read this GREAT article for more background:

https://www.space.com/25786-how-to-become-an-astronaut.html

WANT TO SEE SAMPLES OF THE FEDERAL RESUME FORMAT THAT IS CORRECT
FOR THE USAJOBS BUILDER?

The Book: The Federal Resume Guidebook, 7th Edition, was chosen in 2021 as the Best Reference Book by both the Ben Franklin Awards and the Independent Press Awards.

Federal Resume Guidebook, 7th Ed.

Purchase the Guidebook here

The Author: In 2022, Kathryn Troutman received the National Resume Writers Association’s Industry Hero Award for her “significant contributions” to the specialized field of Federal resume writing. She is the author of many award-winning Federal career guides including the Student’s Federal Career Guide, 4th Edition, and The Stars Are Lined Up for Military Spouses, 2nd Edition. Her firm, the Resume Place, offers Federal resume writing and job coaching services in Potomac, MD.