Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!sri-unix!Wmartin@OFFICE-3
From: Wmartin%OFFICE-3@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Astronaut requirements
Message-ID: <15053@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Jan-84 10:46:00 EST
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.15053
Posted: Wed Jan  4 10:46:00 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Jan-84 01:36:12 EST
Lines: 26

From:  Wmartin@OFFICE-3 (Will Martin)

Can someone explain the purpose of a minimum height requirement for
"Mission Specialist Astronaut Candidates" (as included in SPACE
Digest V4 #76)? I can understand MAXIMUM height requirements for
any shuttle crew or passengers, as they can't make special design
changes to accomodate a few extra-tall people. I can also understand
minimum height requirements for "Pilot Astronaut Candidates" (which
are 4" higher than the other minimum, by the way) -- the pilot must
be able to sit in a standard seat and see out the window, I guess.

But what on earth (or off it) is wrong with having very short (and
therefore lightweight) astronauts as mission specialists? They could
get into nooks and crannies where full-size adults couldn't fit. The
spacesuits are all custom-made for each astronaut anyhow, right? So
that doesn't matter. I would think there would be definite advantages
in reduced life-support requirements and the versatility of the 
individual astronaut's abilities to having at least a few smaller-sized
people in the program. Also, doesn't the 60" minimum height discriminate
against the number of women that could be chosen?

(I speak not for myself in this, as I am 74" myself [and too far gone in
many other ways to qualify...]. Just curious...)

Will Martin
-------