Virgin is hiring astronauts - Polidicks

...unfortunately, you'll have to be American (ruling out at least half of us) and a great team player (ruling out, again, at least half of us). [quote] Pilot-Astronauts Location: Initially Mojave, CA then Spaceport Amercia, NM Business: Virgin Galactic Contract Type: Full Time Closing date: 30/04/2011 Virgin Galactic has launched its search for Pilot-Astronauts. This unique opportunity initially involves working as part of the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo spaceflight system test and development team in Mojave, CA, then taking the experience gained from that program to the spaceline’s commercial operations at its operating base, Spaceport America in New Mexico. These will be the very first commercial Pilots-Astronauts, something which will undoubtedly excite the interest of a great many. Successful candidates will have to be very special: both a full course graduate of a recognised test pilot school and highly and broadly experienced. Virgin is looking for pilots with significant experience of both high performance fast-jet type airplanes as well as large multi-engine types – not only that but “prior spaceflight experience is an advantage”. Virgin Galactic is on track to become the world’s first private spaceline. It is dedicated to becoming a world leader in sub-orbital commercial space tourism with a longer term vision to develop other space technologies that have the potential to open space to significantly more people and users. Company objectives in the lead up to commercial operations are to confirm that the spaceflight system meets Virgin Galactic's exacting standards, and to set up an operational base at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Virgin Galactic actively strives to promote innovation, value, integrity and a sense of enjoyment in all that it does. It will remain a very high profile part of the Virgin Group and has the potential to become its global, flagship company. Start Date Virgin Galactic is recruiting three Pilot-Astronauts to join its initial Pilot-Astronaut ranks. The first Pilot-Astronaut will support the ongoing flight test program of the spaceflight system and will ideally start with us in June 2011. Additional Pilot-Astronauts will be drafted as the flight test program reaches key milestones towards commercial launch activities. Role Purpose Reporting to the Chief Pilot, the Pilot-Astronauts primary responsibilities are to operate the spaceflight system in accordance with government regulations and company policies and procedures, delivering a sub-orbital spaceflight service to Virgin Galactic Customer-Astronauts which is as safe and enjoyable as possible. Key Duties In addition to flight duties with the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo, Pilot-Astronaut duties will also include flight planning activities, mission control co-ordination and ground-to-air support, record keeping and training obligations. Flight planning activities will involve route planning and airspace coordination with personnel at Spaceport America, White Sands Missile Range, the local Federal Aviation Authority Air Traffic Control and Office of Commercial Space Transportation. Mission Control duties include ensuring the safety and continuity of the operation by taking all necessary actions and keeping all relevant parties informed. Initial Pilot-Astronauts are responsible for training of new company Pilot-Astronauts, supervision of ground and flight training (initial and recurrent), and implementation and supervision of update and improvement programs for Pilot-Astronaut training. Pilot-Astronauts will also be involved in training activities with Customer-Astronauts prior to flight to ensure familiarity and competence with communications systems, seat and harness mechanisms and general flight procedures. The initial corps of Virgin Galactic Pilot-Astronauts will also take part in the development and flight test of the spaceflight system. Working with Scaled Composites and The Spaceship Company, Pilot-Astronauts will monitor, advise and assist, where appropriate, in the design, development, flight testing and introduction to service of the spaceflight system. Initial Pilot-Astronauts will be responsible for evaluating the fitness-for-purpose of the spaceflight system in terms of systems, handling qualities, performance and pilot workload. In preparation for the start of commercial operations, the initial Pilot-Astronaut corps will establish the recruitment standard for future Pilot-Astronauts and assist in the selection and training of additional commercial pilot-astronauts. They will also support the operational team in establishing company manuals, in particular defining operating procedures, mission rules, in-flight emergency response procedure, and training syllabi for Pilot-Astronauts and Customer-Astronauts. Once commercial operations have commenced the Pilot-Astronaut will move from the role of testing the spaceflight system to regularly flying the missions. This will involve close contact with the Customer-Astronauts of Virgin Galactic; taking them through the training prior to each mission flight and ensuring a high level of service and communication are maintained at all times both on the ground and in the spaceflight system. All Pilot-Astronauts will be ambassadors of the Virgin Galactic brand, ensuring the Customer-Astronauts experience the highest customer service standards. VG essentials for Pilot-Astronaut successful candidates • Must be a US citizen – compliant with ITAR (22 CFR §120.15) • A current FAA commercial (or equivalent) pilot license and FAA medical (you will be required to produce evidence of both at interview) • Degree level qualification in a relevant technical field • Graduate of a recognized test pilot school, with at least 2 ½ years post-graduate flight test experience (you will be required to produce evidence at interview) • A diverse flying background with a minimum of 3,000 hours flying to include considerable experience of: large multi-engine aircraft and high performance fast jet aircraft and low lift-to-drag ratio glide experience (e.g. simulated flameout landings) in complex aircraft • Operational experience of an aerospace aviation project or business • Excellent, current knowledge on a diverse range of aerospace matters • Ability to communicate aviation knowledge and safety related information simply, succinctly and clearly • Previous responsibility for authorizing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure a safe and efficient operation • Be a proven team player Very limited exceptions to the above may be considered for those with truly outstanding test flying or spaceflight experience. Preference will be given to those with experience of: - Spaceflight - Commercial flight operations - Flight instruction[/quote] [url]http://careers.virgin.com/search/1921/[/url] Still, though, 2011!

I feel like the spaceflight experience preference rules out more people than being a US citizen.

No way in hell I'd want to do that job. The adventurous aspect can't hide the (for me) horrible circumstances under which you will work and the training needed.

Too bad it's not astronauts hiring vigins, we'd all be set.

[QUOTE=Johnnsen;29132978]No way in hell I'd want to do that job. The adventurous aspect can't hide the (for me) horrible circumstances under which you will work and the training needed.[/QUOTE] I think the job pretty much nets you a place in history, though. First commercial astronaut. Damn.

New Mexico? Fuck that

Sweet, now I know what to study.

The space program is a huge waste of taxpayers money. Thank you Virgin! :D

This seems so strange... A company actually hiring commerical astronauts is something I'd guessed I'd never see in my lifetime.

Companies are hiring astronauts to fly regular commercial flights into orbit. [highlight]WE ARE IN THE FUTURE![/highlight]

Brb Applying for my dream job! Considering the Boss of Virgin is British the whole part about being American is fucking stupid, hell i bet most American's don't even give a shit about space.

Man, couple this with Russia's moonbase ambitions ([url]http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1076879-Russia-reveals-plans-for-base-on-the-moon[/url]), and you've got the foundations of a potential colony. The Space Age is kicking off again, with or without the Eagle spreading it's wings. Let them squabble over oil as we mine those asteroids and fight the space octopi!

i'm sorry but 'pilot-astronaut' sounds childish 'astronaut' sounds just fine [editline]12th April 2011[/editline] also the american citizen thing is probably because the only spaceport they have at the moment is in america

Fucking called it. Didn't I tell you the Glorious Space Age was coming? Now we just need to perfect 3D printers :dance:

[QUOTE=Source;29134860]Brb Applying for my dream job! Considering the Boss of Virgin is British the whole part about being American is fucking stupid, hell i bet most American's don't even give a shit about space.[/QUOTE] They launch from the US, you need to live in the US permanently to get a job there. I see nothing wrong with that. Also I love space and I'm American. So do the people at NASA, and Carl Sagan, and all the fans of things like Duck Dodgers and Buzz Lightyear from when they were little, or all the Star Wars or Star Trek or almost any other scifi fans, or many many other people.

Thank god SouthWest isn't hiring Astronauts...

[QUOTE]• Must be a US citizen – compliant with ITAR (22 CFR §120.15) [/QUOTE] Well... I can still just design the spacecraft. Right? It will be just as fun. Don't wait for guys really I will catch up with ya later, you go ahead and take off. Forever an Earthling :frown:

I read the title as "The vikings had astronauts" what the christ

[quote]WhiteKnightTwo[/quote] Great, now we got space KKK.

[QUOTE=ironman17;29135087]Man, couple this with Russia's moonbase ambitions ([url]http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1076879-Russia-reveals-plans-for-base-on-the-moon[/url]), and you've got the foundations of a potential colony. The Space Age is kicking off again, with or without the Eagle spreading it's wings. Let them squabble over oil as we mine those asteroids and fight the space octopi![/QUOTE] Well, we're a good bit off from mining asteroids, but the set of goals for NASA are quite impressive: [list][*]Many, many, many scientific missions with probes and satellites like they have done for the last several decades. [*]Up to 14 or so years of Opportunity exploring Mars [*]Deep-space spacecraft by 2025. [*]Move an asteroid's orbit shortly thereafter (defense against asteroids) [*]Mars by mid-2030's[/list] Of course those are very broad goals and likely to change significantly. But these companies seem to be more stable and closer to now: [list][*]Bigelow Aerospace currently owns the two largest space stations in orbit, and plans to connect them and several more modules into a giant one, as well as a moonbase. [*]Orbital Outfitters is making spacesuits that you can dive from orbit with as an extreme sport/security feature. [*]SpaceX currently is the largest commercial spacecraft manufacturer, and they are making the world's largest heavy-lift rocket. [*]God knows how many other things.[/list] So, yeah, I think we're at a turning point. But it's quite a while until the sci-fi stuff.

Ah yes, module-based moonbases are pretty cool. It's easier to make a building out of a kit than with girders and concrete, saves you having to build the rooms when you can easily just connect a load of pre-built rooms together. All the pieces and ingredients for Moonbase Alpha are there, we just need to follow the steps of the recipe. By the late 2020's we'll probably be up there going "JOHN MADDEN" as we use space pickaxes to mine for meteoric iron and shoot space-harpoons at Ol' Space Cthulhu as He bears down on us from the starboard bow. (i'd love to grow old as one of those old space seadogs, telling tales about fighting space squids on the asteroid belt and the like, ARRR)

[QUOTE=Eudoxia;29135222]Fucking called it. Didn't I tell you the Glorious Space Age was coming? Now we just need to perfect 3D printers :dance:[/QUOTE] 3D printers? Thats so last decade... To the future, with 4D printers! :science:

[QUOTE=Trumple;29136157]3D printers? Thats so last decade... To the future, with 4D printers! :science:[/QUOTE] Click print Time remaining: negative 4 days and you arrive to see the printer hasn't actually been purchased yet

[QUOTE=Zeke129;29135377]I read the title as "The vikings had astronauts" what the christ[/QUOTE] I drew a picture of space astronaut-vikings in are class in like 9th grade and my teacher called security to make me give a drug test no really

I read the title as [I]"Viking is hiring astronauts"[/I]

Looks like they're specifically trying to find military test pilots. Those are the only people that would fit those requirements.

Can I be the ideas guy?

I really wish I could be an astronaut :( - I've already been accepted to a good university to major in Aerospace engineering, planning to work on Astronautical engineering after that. - I've volunteered for and personally have met my local congressional representative so I've got a pretty good chance of getting the congressional recommendation required to get into the Airforce Academy. - I'm not a bad student, I have a 4.0 as of now. - I love math, I got 790 for my Math II SAT score. - I'm an American citizen but was born in Russia, therefore know the two languages that are most useful in space. - I'm not overweight, I wouldn't say I'm in peak physical condition but nothing a year at the gym couldn't fix up. - I've got 20/20 vision. - I have no terrible health problems that could interfere with the mission. Yet the one thing holding me back? My height. I'm 6' 2'', and if I grow two more inches, which I inevitably will, I'll be too tall to be qualified as an astronaut for NASA. :smith:

Do my +1500 hours in Microsoft Flight Simulator qualify me?

[QUOTE=Zeke129;29135377]I read the title as "The vikings had astronauts" what the christ[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Van-man;29136323]I read the title as [I]"Viking is hiring astronauts"[/I][/QUOTE] :frog: