Astronaut makes recruiting visit to Redstone Arsenal

By Jason B. Cutshaw, USASMDC/ARSTRATJanuary 25, 2012

Astronaut makes recruiting visit Redstone Arsenal
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Astronaut makes recruiting visit Redstone Arsenal
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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- NASA is seeking applicants for its next class of astronaut candidates who will support missions to the International Space Station and future deep space exploration activities.

Col. Shane Kimbrough, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's NASA Detachment, led an officer professional development discussion at the invitation of the Program Executive Office-Aviation on Jan. 20. The subject of Kimbrough's briefing was the FY12 Army Astronaut Candidate Screening Board and eligibility criteria for all Redstone Arsenal Soldiers desiring to submit an astronaut candidate package to NASA.

Approximately 15 aviation officers attended the briefing, which was followed by a question and answer period.

"I am here to let Soldiers know about the upcoming astronaut selection process," said. Kimbrough said. "I am talking typically to the test pilot community here at Redstone, but also to anyone who may be interested. We want to have as many Army people apply as possible so we can get the very best candidates at NASA.

"NASA has always had a really good history of Army personnel come and do great things for our nation and our space program," he added. "We want to continue that tradition. Members of the Army are used to living in small spaces and tough conditions and they bring a lot of operational experience with them."

Kimbrough talked about the training he went through and said that no matter how difficult it may have been, it was well worth it.

"I remember my brain hurting a lot," Kimbrough said. "It was like going through a very intense graduate school for a couple of years, but the experience was great and I wouldn't trade for anything.

"There is also a lot of physically demanding training, especially when training to space walk, and if there is one thing Soldiers excel at is the physical aspect of training," he added. "The challenges are hard but the rewards are worth it in every way. I am honored to have had the chance to serve not only my country but to be a member of an international team that worked together to be a part of something bigger than ourselves is something I am proud of."

Interested members of the Army community came out to learn more about how to be a part of an elite community.

"I think it is important to get Army people involved and get them to apply," said Lt. Col. Jeff Johnson, PEO-Aviation product manager for the AH-64D Longbow Apache. "The Army has always played a part in the country's space program and has contributed to NASA's successes. When all is said and done, we want to have a Soldier named to the next group of astronauts and represent our Soldiers in the future."

Once trained, NASA astronauts are involved in all aspects of assembly and on-orbit operations of the ISS. This includes extravehicular activities, robotics operations using the remote manipulator system, experiment operations, and onboard maintenance tasks. Astronauts are required to have a detailed knowledge of the ISS systems, as well as detailed knowledge of the operational characteristics, mission requirements and objectives, and supporting systems and equipment for each experiment on their assigned missions.

Long-duration missions aboard the ISS generally last from three to six months. Training for long duration missions is very arduous and takes approximately two to three years. This training requires extensive travel, including long periods away in other countries training with our international partners. Travel to and from the ISS will be aboard the Russian Soyuz vehicle.

"This has always been a lifelong dream of mine," said Maj. David Hnyda, Aviation Flight Test Directorate, Redstone Test Center, and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior pilot. "When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.

"To be able to represent our country and to be able to explore new frontiers is all I can ask for," he added. "And I hope to one day be the next person to walk on the moon."

NASA selects astronauts from a diverse pool of applicants with a wide variety of backgrounds. From the thousands of applications received, only a few are chosen for the intensive Astronaut Candidate training program. There have been only 15 Army astronauts who have been selected to date.

The backgrounds of NASA's previous groups of astronaut candidates include schoolteachers, doctors, scientist and engineers.

"Humans have always had the propensity to explore, and it is no different today," said Maj. Anne McClain, experimental test pilot en route to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., for test pilot school. "Astronauts have always been on the cutting edge of exploration, and I want to be involved. It is the greatest accomplishment I could achieve and to be a part of something bigger than yourself is the ultimate adventure.

"I would like to be able to make a positive difference," she added. "I don't know how to define that difference yet and don't know if I ever will, but to be a member of this elite team is one way to start on that path."

Astronaut selections will be announced in the spring of 2013. Selected candidates will report for duty at the Johnson Space Center that summer.