You may have heard that Prince Harry is fascinated becoming an astronaut. For those of you that know a bit about Prince Harry, you can score him based on the NASA requirements below and see how he does. First of all, not on the NASA list is “what about being a Royal?” So far, NASA has only selected astronauts who were American citizens. Piers Sellers, is one of very few British Born astronauts. He had to become an American citizen before he could fly on the Space Shuttle. Would they make an exception for Harry? Look at the opportunity here for NASA to promote the space program at time when funds are very hard to come by. Training typically takes a few years before first flight on a rocket, so If the world at large know that there was a Royal in the space program, how much more interest would there be?

Or how much derision at the prospect of a Royal going on a jolly to space at the Taxpayers expense. Certainly, the main news media would have a field day with this one. The UK Tabloid newspaper, The Sun, has already put up some lurid headlines and photo shopped a Royal Standard Flag being planted on the moon by a space suited Harry. Maybe a private enterprise approach is the best way to get Harry’s obvious aptitude for flight up into space. Come on Sir Richard Branson, let’s get Prince Harry’s Seat on the sub orbital Spaceship you are promoting confirmed. Now there is a publicity marriage made in heaven.

Harry’s Skills Requirements for Being a Pilot and a NASA Astronaut.

As you might expect, NASA has a long list of requirements for becoming an Astronaut Pilot. Let’s have a look at these to see how he measures up.

First off, he will need a Bachelor's degree. Likely subject should be biology, engineering, any of the physical sciences, or good old plain maths. Next is harder to achieve, that is at least 1,000 hours in command of a jet aircraft. On top of this, test flight experience is highly desirable. You may well remember almost all of the first astronauts were test pilots.

Clearly, you have to be physically fit to train as a pilot and an astronaut. NASA have their own very high standards, but you can sum them up in having very good eyesight, Normal blood pressure and not being too tall or too short. You have to be in the goldilocks height band, no shorter than 62 inches tall, no taller than 75.