NASA Introduces Media to New Astronaut Candidates

Eight astronaut candidates who arrived at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston this week to begin training participated in a news conference with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on Tuesday, Aug. 20. The candidates were selected come from the second largest pool of applicants NASA has ever received -- more than 6,000. During the next two years, the group will participate in a variety of technical training activities at space centers and remote locations around the globe to prepare for missions that will help the agency push the boundaries of exploration and travel to new destinations in the solar system.

[TheGaIaxy]

After watching Uchuu Kyoudai (Space Brothers) I feel the exact same positive feelings watching the real life version. I am so happy to see the family atmosphere that makes NASA a dream to work at. Haha...Look at these ESCANs...they have so much training to do. I wonder if any of these ESCANs noticed the loose screw on the chair.

[AjinkyaNaikksp]

Hey I love astronauts..they are my heroes..and I want to become an astronaut too..salute to these new orion astronauts..good luck..

[SpyOpz]

Military personnel get experience like no other, such as flying highly advanced jets and learning strong work ethics and good discipline including self discipline.

[asitsaha]

I wish all the astronauts grand success in their forthcoming mission of exploration in the mysterious sky, wherein countless of stars, planets, satellites and other flying objects are in ceaseless actions.

[CommandantNOVA]

Soldiers make excellent astronauts due to how they react in hazardous situations. Also they all have scientific degrees and tons of scientific experience.

[fatarsemonkey]

The reason astronauts are often sourced from the military is because of their great discipline not because they want to shoot guns in space, any one who has been a soldier has already been through intense testing of character under very stressful conditions, just grabbing a biologist say, you then have to put them through that to see how they will stand up, that's why early on test pilots were used because they operated well in uncertain conditions.

[marijn]

Good luck to them! No one astronaut group has ever had such a big chance of leaving Earth orbit since the apollo astronauts. I'm very jealous of them:)

[yunggjordan]

Congrats to every single one. Will stay tune for the rest of yall career

[DeadWolfRakon]

Good luck to them! I hope one day to even get close to the place they are now.

[Thetechgeek]

Did you not hear their degrees? All of them went to college and have experience with what is needed in NASA. Also, some people have to have flight experience.

[jkovert]

Of course. We own space. We only include other countries so we can make them feel better about themselves.

[TheMarijuana]

It is about being able to perform under immense pressure, no to mention fighter pilots can fly well already

[abacuschannel]

Those of you who still believe that our astronauts are permanently grounded on Earth, remember this: we still have the cooperation of the Russian space agency, and they still have the Soyuz. After the last Space Shuttle flight, Russia has been happy to provide the ride to the International Space Station.

[jkovert]

The Ruskies are the taxi drivers. This makes them feel like they still have a space program.

[MovieMad]

So long as the physicist has the reactions, fitness and sound judgement and the discipline to do his or her specialism under these conditions whether they have flown a fast jet or not should be an astronaut!

[noxure]

One of these guys has a PhD and a post doctorate in high energy particle physics and is an experienced test pilot for the navy.

If you think that a physicist who hasn't flew a military aircraft in his life would be better qualified to be an astronaut, then you don't really know what you're talking about imo.

[mge]

When this is on mainstream/prime time TV then we will show value for STEM. Less reality TV - more value of science & engineering. Thx

[Fabiofm]

Anyone know what astronauts are going to mars yet?

[Lady_Lilium]

Congratulations im feel ver happy for yours

Lol he said "Father into the solo system"