Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Eliminated!

   So how does NASA make sure they pick the right astronaut(s) out of the group of candidates? What are they looking for? That list seems like it goes on forever:
-ability to relate to others with sensitivity, regard, and empathy
-adaptability
-flexibility
-fairness
-sense of humor
-an ability to form stable and quality interpersonal relationships
    Mary Roach puts it as, NASA doesn't want "guts and swagger", they'd rather have "Richard Gere from 'Nights in Rodanthe'".
    If a person is unable to express their irritation, they might get eliminated. Another thing they look for is snoring! If it's too loud, you will get eliminated if it effects others sleeping cycles. For Chinese candidates, if they have bad breath, they too will get eliminated. Oh and by the way, for those looking to be astronauts one day, if your given food, eat all of it. They observe if you're a picky eater and wasteful, can you say eliminated?

5 comments:

  1. Wow! They really eliminate you for bad breath and snoring! thats crazy, no wonder it is so hard to become an astronaut, id be eliminated after the very first meal!

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  2. Some of these things surprise me, but when you think about it, every little detail is important when locked in a space shuttle up in space!

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  3. The things they look for make sense at least- especially the snoring one if you're going to be stuck in space for a while on a SMALL spacecraft! Why do they only check the Chinese for having bad breath though?

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  4. Sounds like it takes a certain kind of someone to be an astronaut. So much for being whatever you want to be!

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  5. that is pretty intense, but i geuss it makes sense.

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