Listen Live
Photos: NASA, SpaceX to launch Crew-4 mission to International Space Station
Source: NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren waves as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Complex 39-A Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts will fly on SpaceX’s Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station.

As commercial spaceflight transitions from science fiction to reality, the industry is grappling with a growing shortage of trained astronauts. With only a limited number of professionals available, some private companies are beginning to accept applications from the general public. Space travel could soon become a realistic job opportunity for non-traditional candidates.

In response to this shift, France’s Spaceflight Institute is launching certification programs to establish a standardized benchmark for commercial astronaut training. Their initial offering is a three-day course priced at approximately $940.

Currently, fewer than 150 astronauts are certified worldwide, according to the Institute a number that may prove insufficient as demand surges in the coming years.

Your inner child must be so excited!!

Lana Backman