Students with high hopes aim for stars

Who didn't want to be an astronaut? Who didn't imagine looking at the Earth from afar, circling the globe in weightlessness or leaving footprints on the moon? Becoming an astronaut was a popular dream for many. And for some University students, the dream lives on.

Rachel East, an Engineering junior, became interested in space when she was in second grade. She joined a young astronaut club and went to space camp. When it came time to choose a field of study, she decided on aerospace engineering. East said thought about other disciplines but couldn't get space out of her mind.

"I don't want to regret not doing something I want to do," she said.

Engineering senior Abhishe Tripathi said he came to the University solely to become an astronaut.

"I never even thought of a career other than that," Tripathi said. said. "For me, it's like my life."

The University has a strong tradition in space. With the nation's first collegiate aeronautics program, it boasts six alumni who have orbited the Earth. Alumnus Ed White was the first American to spacewalk. Three other alumni went to the moon, where Michigan memorabilia, including the seal of the aeronautics department, remain.

But not just anyone can join the ranks of those six famous alums. Huge numbers of applicants to NASA's astronaut program are regularly turned away.

Holly Calley, a personnel assistant in Johnson Space Center's Astronaut Selection Office, said NASA selects new astronauts every two years. This round attracted 2,621 applicants, 121 of whom were invited for interviews. She estimated that 15 to 20 will make the final cut and enter astronaut training.

"Saying I'm going to grow up and be an astronaut is like saying I'm going to grow up and be president of the United States," said Alec Gallimore, an assistant aerospace engineering professor.

The competition is stiff. Advanced degrees, physical fitness, work experience and personality all enter into consideration during the application process. Astronauts must be cool under pressure and work well with a team, said Gallimore, who considered applying for the program. "I never applied because I like it here," he said, but he left the door open for applying in the future.

Much of what NASA requires of its astronauts involves upholding a certain image for the program. Every astronaut acts as an ambassador for NASA, which relies heavily on public support.

Brad King, an Engineering doctoral student, spent several years at Houston's Johnson Space Center observing astronauts and their credentials. Multiple advanced degrees, community service and flying experience are some of the astronauts' many qualifications.

"You don't know how they have time to fit it all in one lifetime," he said.

King knows how difficult the competition can be. He applied last June and was rejected. The reason: He didn't pass the stringent physical requirements. King once had eye surgery for a condition that he said even a doctor couldn't detect now.

Many applicants reapply for years, and will give up high-paying jobs, if an opportunity opens up at NASA.

But Luis Bernal, an associate aerospace engineering professor, said not every aerospace student has aspirations of becoming an astronaut.

Aerospace graduates can design airplanes, satellites or boosters, he said. Other graduates design equipment for space exploration and some hope to see their creations launched into space.

"That's a more realistic goal," said Bernal, who is the advisor for a group of University students whose project is now in orbit.

He also noted that astronauts can come from other scientific fields of study. "There are probably easier ways to become astronauts," Bernal said.

Still more of the department's graduates switch fields, as aerospace is closely related to mechanical engineering.

Bernal said few of his students say they want to be astronauts. Gallimore, however, said he estimated a quarter to a third of undergraduate aerospace students have dreams of space.

"I don't know of anyone in the aerospace department who wouldn't love to go to space," said one student, Engineering junior Jack McNamara.

Tony England was a lucky one who spent eight days in space in 1985. Now, he is a Rackham associate dean, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and a professor of atmospheric, oceanic and space sciences. He said he loved his experience as an astronaut but cautioned against setting unrealistic goals.

"There are an awful lot of things in life that are fun," said England, who said his jobs in Antarctica and Alaska were among his life's highlights. "There are many other things to be done."

But he vividly remembers the view from the space shuttle - seeing mountains, airplanes and even shooting stars beneath him. He recalled flying over his hometown, and seeing a green aurora like a curtain above the earth. The globe, he said, was beautiful from the sky. "The pictures don't capture it."

02-19-98