10 Characteristics of an Ideal Astronaut: Find Out If You're Fit for Spaceflight

Today we look at the sky and our thoughts are with the first Pole on the ISS - Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski. Seeing this exceptional scientist and national hero, many wonder what skills and character traits are needed to beat over 22 thousand candidates and fly into space? We asked artificial intelligence to create 10 traits of the ideal candidate for a member of the Ax-4 mission team based on available data and analyses.

To get into the Falcon 9 capsule, you don't need to have exceptional intelligence or a degree. The European Space Agency and NASA have been testing candidates at the limits of human capabilities for years.

Physics, mentality, endurance, teamwork – this is just the beginning.

In an era of growing interest in space exploration, the Moon and Mars, the question "what qualities should an astronaut have?" becomes more relevant than ever. Here are 10 most important competencies without which you would have no chance in the race for a place in the Crew Dragon capsule and on board the ISS.

An astronaut is not a passenger, but a specialist. The ideal candidate is an engineer, physicist, biologist, doctor or military pilot – with degrees from technical universities and research experience, often at the level of a doctorate.

Long isolations, stress, unpredictability – only people with an iron psyche can stay calm in orbit. NASA and ESA test candidates in caves, deprivation chambers and failure simulations, among other places.

The candidate must be in excellent shape – impeccable EKG, circulatory system, no vision defects (or corrected), appropriate body weight. Space flight is an extreme burden on the body.

There is no place for ego on the ISS. What counts is empathy, communication, trust and the ability to function under pressure in a micro-team. An astronaut is a member of the crew – not a soloist.

These are the operational languages ​​of space stations. Many astronauts also learn Russian – a requirement, especially for missions involving Russian modules.

An astronaut is a one-man band: he must know mechanics, biology, meteorology, programming, robotics, and emergency medicine. There is no on-call technician in orbit.

When something goes wrong, you have to act quickly – without panic. ESA tests candidates in real conditions (e.g. underwater failures, fires in simulators).

Training takes years. The mission itself can last half a year. Experiments can be monotonous, and precision is key to success. An astronaut is a marathon runner, not a sprinter.

This is not a beauty contest. A true astronaut knows that he is flying not for himself, but in the name of science, humanity and future generations. Only such can withstand the pressure.

Space is a place that does not forgive mistakes. An astronaut must be willing to admit: "I don't know", "I need help", "Let's do it again". Without this attitude - there is no survival.

While not all of us will fly to the International Space Station, the traits of an ideal astronaut are also useful here on Earth. The ability to work in a team under stress, mental resilience, concentration and flexible thinking – these are the skills of the future that every leader, innovator and entrepreneur will appreciate.