Astronaut Rejection Part I of II
I previously wrote about applying to NASA to be a astronaut. I haven’t heard back from them yet, but I’m highly confident about what the reply will say.
I didn’t mention it here but I also applied to ESA. I got accepted (OMG!!), went to DLR in Hamburg, Germany for the first round of psychological testing, and even qualified for the second round in Cologne. But that is as far as I made it…
The NASA selection process is fairly secretive. I haven’t found much about it online. ESA is too, and I cannot discuss any details as I signed an NDA, but they still post a lot online. At the ESA Astronaut Selection Site you can view the full schedule, learn about what they are looking for, and even take a bunch of tests that are similar to what I took as part of the Psych I evaluation.
Oh well. It was fun while it lasted. I guess I won’t be an astronaut… for now. I haven’t given up hope entirely yet. I know what I need to do to strengthen my application for the next time I can apply. Hopefully it is within a decade or I might not pass the age limit requirements. And of course, I’m still counting on Tim…
September 4th, 2008 at 16:17
Start saving your money now. :)
Or send us a job application.
September 4th, 2008 at 17:49
If neither Nasa or Esa wants us as astronaut I’m pretty sure that between your knowledge in robotics and software and my knowledge in rocket propulsion, we can build our own spacecraft.
September 7th, 2008 at 19:33
Hi
Something I gotta have missunderstood… You said you qualified for the second round of tests, and you mean that you won’t go further in the selection process… what ma I missing?
September 7th, 2008 at 19:50
Hi Spaniard,
ESA states,
I don’t have a Masters (although I am working toward one) but I applied anyway, hoping experience might count in place. It seems I shouldn’t have made it to the first round because when 2nd round was announced, I was contacted and asked for proof of Masters ASAP. When I said I didn’t have one I was told I was no longer being considered.
So, even though I qualified for the 2nd round, I won’t be going.
Good luck in Cologne! I wish I could join you. Perhaps I will in a few years when I have the necessary paperwork. Enjoy the psychological testing… :)
September 7th, 2008 at 20:16
Hi mankoff
I’m sorry for that, man, these guys from ESA seem to be as fast as spies… At least, the told you that you were off selection, precluding you from bitting your nails, eventually. hey, look on the bright side, you got a nice DVD inside a silvery box, lol… I think they could be missing excellent candidates so long as high degrees are assets but you might be brilliant and better than others with hundreds of parchments up in there, huh???
I’m from Spain though I got my PhD in Scotland, don’t know up to what extent knowing 2 languages is important. They’ve just told me that congratulations blah blah blah and I will be recontacted again in the next days or weeks. I don’t know if they give you a clue on the new round, like sample test somehow or other info…
Anyway, man, don’t get discouraged, in Spain we say: “whoever chases it, gets it”
Best Regards mate !!!
September 8th, 2008 at 10:49
Hi,
I was qualified for the 1rst round but still no answer. Do you know people that already received negative answers?
When did you (mankoff and spaniards) done the testing for the first round? I don’t know if they are announcing all people at the same time or not. I am little anxious to know about the outcome of my application. If most people already received positive answers and I didn’t, it may be a bad sign…
Davi
September 8th, 2008 at 11:51
Hi Davi,
I cannot answer for ESA, but…
Have you been to (or invited to) Psych I in Hamburg? If not, then I’m 99% sure you are not competing anymore. If you went to Psych I and are waiting to hear about Psych II in Cologne, then you have a (slim) chance. Slim because only a small percentage continue from Psych I to Psych II, and also because I think the invitations went out starting September 1.
September 8th, 2008 at 16:59
Hi,
Yes I was invited to Psych I in Hamburg and I have done the testing at end of July. I was asking you the date of your testing because may be they are inviting people by order of first test date. But if invitations started the 1rst september and I was not contacted, well may be they are only thinking about me and see what they will decide…
But did you really receive an email saying that you were sucessfull during the first psych tests (before they asked you the diploma)? When did you done the tests? Did you feel you have done very good tests?
Thanks!
Davi
September 9th, 2008 at 11:12
Hi Davi
Let me see… I received a congratulatory mail from ESA in September the 1st. Last monday they sent me the “instructions e-mail” telling me about timetables in Cologne and to fill in again the travel form, like in the first step. I will be going at the beginning of november.
When I went to the first round, I attended it the last week they were administering the tests, and I was advised about it at the end of july, when test I was in progress. Conclusion. If you now say that you did the Test I and you haven’t been told congratulations, you’re still on the process, wait for us for instructions, do not worry, they have to tell you whether you are still within the process or not, at least, we were told that in Hamburg. So if still no answer, you still don’t know.
Good luck pal !!
September 9th, 2008 at 11:20
Thanks Spaniard,
Feel free to let us know how it goes. But remember the NDA so don’t tell us too much…
Good luck!
September 9th, 2008 at 12:29
I’ve just been told that would be group tests and interviews, exactly what you guys know (I was also told during the first round), so nothing new, neither trials… I’m a wee scared as I don’t have nothing to hold on to, so to speak, although we all got knocked when faced the infamous tests about the indicators, numbers and cubes, what the hell… you never now.
One thing is clear. Now we are 200, and they will select 4 official astronauts and 4 reserves. Realistically, I have wee wee chances, though I will try to do my best…
I will keep you informed !!!
Best regardies
September 9th, 2008 at 12:40
Many thanks for your reply,
As curiosity, how did you manage the Psych I tests?. Most of them were ok for me but some were quite difficult. Auditive memory, clocks (perception) was quite difficult for me but i think that almost nobody was performing well all tests.
I wonder if they take into account the CV for the evaluating who are the 200 selected candidates. I believe yes.
About the NDA, you are right. We should not talk much about that. We have to respect what they asked for.
Davi.
September 9th, 2008 at 13:06
Hi ya Davi
During my round, we all were feeling the same: these have nothing to do with trials !! Some were the same, some (like the clocks) were much appalling. Of course, we all said: I won’t go any further, that’s it. I believe that is the feeling with tests that you don’t solve at 100 % gives you stress, specially with people like us, but you gotta resist the stress, huh? And remember the last tests, I had a pilot by my side and he told me that he messed it up… I wouldn’t say I was no lucky, it might be luck, man, I am not a genius, although I am a rather fast thinker and I managed to concentrate there.
Finally, they have taken into account, in this stage, the medical questionnaire, remember? On this side I gotta say that my physical fitness is equivalent to a compiting athlete, I was scared about this point as I was told that ESA, NASA, etc want healthy people, not athletes… Again, you never know.
I don’t want to make illusions about it. I believe I won’t be an astronaut just because I have passed first round, 8 out of 200 is too much. I just wanna enjoy the tests and food.
Regards
September 24th, 2008 at 12:14
ESA has just published an update on the selection process: http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMZQPQ4KKF_index_0.html
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