Council Says ISS Staffing, Contingency Plans Will Require More Than 61

The National Research Council, which was chartered by Congress but is considered a private institution, is out with a report which says the United States is at risk because we have too few astronauts. The NRC is warning that the number of astronauts currently employed by NASA, 61, is too low. The number was almost 150 as recently as 2000.

Fox News reports the NRC will make the case for a NASA astronaut corps even for support of commercial space programs.

Joe Rothenberg, one of the co-chairs for the report, notes, "With the retirement of the shuttle program and the uncertainty during the transition to a fully operational ISS, it's even more important that the talent level, diversity, and capabilities of the astronaut office be sustained. Making sure NASA maintains adequate training facilities is also essential to ensure a robust astronaut corps."

Frederick Gregory, a former commander of three shuttle missions who also served as NASA's deputy administrator, adds, "Viewed as a supply chain, astronaut selection and training is very sensitive to critical shortfalls; astronauts who are trained for specific roles and missions can't be easily interchanged."

The full report will be published later this year, and can be ordered in paperback now for about $25. A four-page summary is available for download at the link below.

FMI: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/xpedio/groups/depssite/documents/webpage/deps_064444.pdf