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NASA Wants "People People" for Astronaut Core

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the hope-there-is-still-a-little-steel dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "Astronauts are the ultimate Type A personalities but that can backfire during a long stay in space so NASA is taking applications for a new crop of astronauts whose main duties are to conduct experiments, keep the station running and stay in their crewmates' good graces. For that, NASA needs an affable, tolerant guy or gal who is more researcher than jet jockey. 'You need to be more of a people person' to serve on the station, says astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, who has flown on the space shuttle and commanded the station. 'You can't just be steely-eyed, no matter how competent.' Coping skills are crucial on a station mission, which lasts three to six months, compared with 11 to 15 days for a shuttle mission. 'Anybody can get along with anybody for a couple of weeks,' says psychiatry professor Nick Kanas who studies astronaut behavior. After a month or two, 'being with somebody for that long starts to wear on you. The jokes get stale. You have to learn new ways of interacting.'"

10 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. Prostitutes by 4D6963 · · Score: 3, Funny

    So basically they're looking for people that would help astronauts remain sane and cool during long stays in space. Have they considered prostitutes?

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    1. Re:Prostitutes by Joe+the+Lesser · · Score: 3, Funny

      I agree.

      All they need is a space station with blackjack and hookers!

      Well, forget the blackjack.

      And the space station.

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    2. Re:Prostitutes by Rei · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't think relationships of any kind in space are a particularly good idea.

      Astronaut Qualification Test (1 question)

      1. (100 points): If you had a wig, pepper spray, an adult diaper, a new steel mallet, a knife, rubber tubing, and a large garbage bag, what would you do with them?

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    3. Re:Prostitutes by Garridan · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hmm... that wasn't what the engineers meant when they added "tang" to the pre-flight checklist... but hey, it'd do for me!

  2. Let me be the first to say by vivaoporto · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Simpsons did it first!

  3. NASA Wants "People People" for Astronaut Core... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... and they've decided Slashdot is the place to look for them.

    Note to moderators: the above is "+5 Funny"

  4. In flight beverage? by esocid · · Score: 3, Funny

    Are they serving complimentary Tang? If so, sign me up.

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  5. Whatever It Takes by tcolberg · · Score: 4, Funny

    If it nets me a trip to space, I'll be whatever personality they want me to be!

  6. Re:Oh, wonderful, NASA joins the anti-autism crusa by damburger · · Score: 2, Funny

    If an autistic person cannot get on with a non-autistic person, why do you assume it is the fault of the autistic person? Perhaps the normal person is just too damn intolerant.

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  7. New ways of interacting in space by kcbanner · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bow chica chica bow bow chica. I know you were thinking it.

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