NASA Astronaut Candidate Selection Qualifications Inquiry

This information collection supports the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended. The NASA Astronaut Selection Office, in collaboration with the NASA Human Capital Management Office, recruits astronaut candidates for various USA Space Exploration programs. The applicant evaluation process includes the collection of references from individuals who have been directly associated with the applicant over the course of the applicant's career. The information is used to gain insight into the candidate's work ethics and professionalism. When evaluating an applicant for the Astronaut Candidate Program, it is important that the ASO have the benefit of qualitative and quantitative information and recommendations from persons who have been directly associated with the applicant over the course of their career. On average, over 8,000 applications are received for each Astronaut vacancy announcement (released via USA Jobs.). After a thorough application review process, which includes NASA Astronauts participating as subject matter experts, approximately 450 applicants are placed in the ‘highly qualified’ rating category. Only then is information obtained from external references identified by the applicant. Each applicant provides the ASO with a list of two (2) key references (current and most recent previous supervisor), totaling 900 responses for 300 burden hours (20 minutes per response). The reference pool includes previous employers/direct reporting managers, as well as co-workers. The information is collected electronically, however respondents have an option to submit references through the mail if they do not have access to a computer.

The latest form for NASA Astronaut Candidate Selection Qualifications Inquiry expires 2023-04-30 and can be found here.