Why are most astronauts fighter jet pilots in the Air Force?

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Is it fitness and transferable skills? Seems like it would be most advantageous to be some sort of scientist. With the likes of SpaceX making it all more automated, will the demographic of astronauts change?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

No one has mentioned this. Fighter pilots usually have extensive formal education in engineering and aerodynamics and all that good stuff. When the public thinks of fighter pilots, they think Iceman and maverick, hot shots. While that stereotype is partly true, they are also extremely smart. The ones who become astronauts also usually have continued their education.

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