Analysis conducted by NASA several years ago revealed that its astronaut corps would dip below the minimum manifest requirement in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, a situation that prompted NASA to select 10 new astronaut candidates at the end of 2021. The new recruits are now beginning a rigorous two-year training program. But the report said the current situation means NASA may not have enough additional astronauts available to make up for “unanticipated attrition and crew reassignments,” as well as ground roles such as leadership and liaison positions, and those serving as spokespeople for the agency. With more than 12,000 people applying to become NASA astronauts in the last hiring round, there’s clearly still much interest in space exploration as a career, suggesting that the space agency has a good chance of putting things right over time. Editors' Recommendations

Source: The Nation January 17, 2022 08:05 UTC