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launch, as well as the rough ride into
space.Then they need to keep that good
health for months in space. If an astronaut got seriously ill way up
there, help is far away.
One other thing to keep in mind: If you’re too tall or too short (as
an adult!), you might not qualify. Because of the tight spaces astronauts
might have to go, there is a height limit of 6 feet 3 inches (1.9 m). You
also need to be at least 5 feet 2 inches (1.53 m) to make sure you’ll fit
into the suits, gear, and other protective devices.
Why I Became
an Astronaut
“I can’t remember a time when
I didn’t want to be an astro-
naut,” said Janet Kavandi. “I
saw all the stars at night, and I
remember talking with my dad
about what it would look like
from ‘up there.’” She earned
advanced degrees in chemistry,
but always wanted to see what
life was like in space. “I worked
hard in math and science, but
always had my eye on making
that dream come true.”
Kavandi was accepted as an as-
tronaut in 1994 and her dream
came true on her first mission
in 1998. She later went back to
space twice more, having
spent 33 days in space as a
high-flying chemist.
Janet Kavandi trained as a chemist, but later saw her
dreams of space flight come true.