Astronauts needed to help get to Mars — NASA Want Ad

Looking for a career change?

While some private Mars missions are being planned as one-way trips, applicants can rest assured-NASA’s are being planned as round-trips.

Do you think you can make it as an astronaut? Well, check the space travel section because NASA needs you.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) begins the search for the next generation of astronauts. NASA plans on announcing final candidate selections in mid-2017.

While many people are fascinated by space, the NASA job may not be a good fit for everyone. According to the professional networking site LinkedIn, some 3 million of the site’s members working in the United States appear to meet the minimum academic eligibility requirements for the job.

This year the competition is looking stiff. It’s a highly competitive job: over 6,000 people applied for the last class of astronauts back in 2013, and only 8 people were picked.

Education: Regardless of which branch you choose, all candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. And then, the chosen candidates must all pass NASA-given long duration physical tests.

Astronaut criteria have changed over the years, said Brian Kelly, director of flight operations at Johnson Space Center.

Unfortunately, NASA has a catch in their application process – you need to be a U.S. citizen to apply for it.

“It takes an extraordinary person”, Newman said.

What it takes to be an astronaut and how to apply: It’s not that hard! Interviewees will be selected from the Highly Qualified group and contacted on a week-by-week basis.

These qualifications, apparently, did not deter Gizmodo’s Adam Clark Estes from sending his own application, despite being “absurdly unqualified”. Applicants must also submit five references.

NASA opened its astronaut-application website Monday. The link for the AMA is here.

Since I was a space-crazed teenager, I’ve glanced at this most out-of-this-world want ad when it’s posted every few years.

Annual salaries range from $66,000 to about $145,000.

So, are you interested in this once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity from NASA?