How would one become an astronaut through the Air Force?

[Image: A seldom-reproduced photo of the Original Seven (well, six of them, as Glenn isn't in this shot for some reason)—the first class of astronauts selected for the Project Mercury. Anyone even remotely interested in space should be able to attach names to faces. If you don't know the names of all seven, shame on you. read more

[Image: A seldom-reproduced photo of the Original Seven (well, six of them, as Glenn isn’t in this shot for some reason)—the first class of astronauts selected for the Project Mercury. read more

BUT, there is one small bright spot of hope for military astronauts: the Air Force remains the sole “Military agent for space” and if ever in the future there would be a need for military astronauts (and not civil astronauts taken from the military as is now the case), it would be the Air Force who would provide and train such astronauts. read more

But if any branch were to offer slots to enlisted folks, the Air Force fits the bill as the biggest supporter of space operations. An ambitious airman in a field like Space Systems Operations, with a load of experience and off-duty education, could make a strong case for becoming the first enlisted astronaut. read more

If you want to become an astronaut, make sure to get excellent grades at the high school and college level as this is a marker of your intellect. Consider getting your bachelor’s degree in a field that will prepare you for working in space, such as math, physics, engineering, or science. read more