Joe Acaba selected as NASA’s Chief Astronaut

February 9, 2023

In December 2022, the deputy chief of NASA Drew Feustel became the chief. However, his services recently ended and he was succeeded by the new chief Joe Acaba. The chief of NASA manages the resources of the organization, creates assignments, fixes deadlines, designs crew operation concepts, etc.

About Acaba

Joe Acaba has spent more than 306 days in space. He served as a mission specialist and flight engineer. He has also participated in spacewalks. Also, he supported the first resupply spacecraft launched in 2012, the Dragon of SpaceX.

How is the Chief Astronaut of NASA selected?

He is appointed by the President of the United States. The US Senate advises the President on making the appointment. The president has to get the consent of the senate before making the appointment.

Chief of NASA Astronaut Corps

NASA’s Chief acts as the Chief of the NASA Astronaut Corps as well. The NASA Astronaut Corps selects and trains the astronauts. As of December 2022, there were 41 active astronauts. OF these 16 are women and 25 are men. In the history of NASA, the year 2000 had the highest number of astronauts. There were 149 NASA astronauts in 2000.

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