NASA needs more astronauts, report finds

Space.com : NASA does not have enough astronauts, according to a report released yesterday by the National Research Council. The agency has advised that NASA step up its recruitment to be sure to have enough trained personnel to anticipate attrition due to illness or injury and to accommodate possible new missions. The American astronaut program has been steadily decreasing in size since 1999, from 150 members to the current 61, partly due to the retirement of the space shuttle. However, the US still needs astronauts to fly missions to the International Space Station. The ISS training regime is extensive and requires years of preparation, including training for spacewalks, learning software systems, and mastering docking procedures.