NASA Mission Specialist Job Description

NASA mission specialists are responsible for conducting space walks and many other aspects of a mission to space.

NASA is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States. This organization oversees missions to space and the international space station. NASA mission specialists are astronauts that work closely with the pilot and commander of space craft. Mission specialists perform extravehicular activities or space walks, operate the robotic arms or remote manipulator systems used in space missions and are responsible for a wide range of duties during missions to space. Becoming a mission specialist requires a high level of education and training.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

According to NASA, mission specialists have a wide variety of responsibilities during space missions. Together with the commander and pilot they coordinate all shuttle operations. They are responsible for planning of crew activities, delegating and regulating the use of onboard rations, and managing experiment and payload operations. They must have comprehensive understanding of all space craft systems, in depth knowledge of operation procedures, requirements and objectives as well as the supporting equipment for each component on space missions.

Education Requirements

According to NASA, all astronauts including mission specialists must possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. Astronauts must also have at least three years of related professional experience. It is desirable to hold an advanced degree and this may be substituted for all or some of the required experience. According to NASA, a master's degree will equal one year of experience, a doctoral degree is equal to 3 years of experience.

Physical Requirements

All astronauts must be able to pass a NASA space physical. This physical is similar to a military or civilian physical that many jobs require. The astronauts must meet physical standards that include 20/200 or better uncorrected, or 20/20 corrected vision in each eye. Refractive surgery such as LASIK is now allowed for astronauts, yet at least one year without negative effects must have passed since the procedure. Astronauts must also have 140/90 blood pressure when in a seated position and be between 58.5 and 76 inches in height. Astronauts must be legal citizens of the United States.

Flying Experience

Flying experience is extremely beneficial for mission specialist applicants. While flying experience is only required for Pilot Astronauts and Pilots selected have had military pilot training. For mission specialists positions flying experience can be attained from private lessons or in the military.

Job Salary

Astronaut salaries are organized from the federal government's General Schedule pay scale. All astronauts including mission specialists hold GS-11 through GS-14 positions. The grade that an astronaut holds is reflective of the astronaut's academic accomplishment and experience. In 2009, an astronaut made an annual salary of $59,493 to $130,257.

References

• Nasa.gov: Astronaut Requirements
• Nasa.gov: Astronaut Selection
• Pbs.org: Astronaut Training
• Universetoday.com: Astronaut Salary
• Nasajobs.nasa.gov: Astronaut FAQ

Resources

• Jsc.nasa.gov: Astronaut Bios