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Number: 35. Selection announced: 16 January 1978. Requirement: Provide pilot, engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flights. Recruit women and minorities to introduce diversity into the astronaut corps. Pilots: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. Advanced degree desirable. At least 1,000 flight-hours of pilot-in-command time. Flight test experience desirable. Excellent health. Vision minimum 20/50 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 vision; maximum sitting blood pressure 140/90. Height between 163 and 193 cm.
Mission Specialists: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics and minimum three years of related experience or an advanced degree. Vision minimum 20/150 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20. Maximum sitting blood pressure of 140/90. Height between 150 and 193 cm.Nickname: TFNG (Thirty-Five New Guys, also an obscene military phrase). 8,079 applicants, of which half met the basic qualifications. 208 invited for physical tests and interviews. Of the 35 selected, six were women, three were male African-Americans, and one was a male Asian-American. Nickname of the 1978 Astronaut Group, officially Thirty-Five New Guys but actually a military term, The F---ing New Guys (by reference of the long-waiting existing astronaut corps, some of whom had been waiting for a decade in the gap between Apollo and the Shuttle for a flight, and so their chances diminished by the sudden augmentation of the astronaut corps). Also Thanks For Nothing, George, a reference to George Abbey, who made the crew selections in an opaque and infuriating style.
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