posted 08-07-2007 07:25 PM               

Here a little list I compiled:

• Charles Conrad (Unsuccessful Group 1 selection but OK for Group 2)
  
• James Lovell (Unsuccessful Group 1 Selection but OK for Group 2)
  
• James Wood (Unsuccessful Group 1 but OK for X-20 Dynasoar)
  
• Charles Bock (Unsuccessful Group 2 Selection)
  
• Mike Adams (Unsuccessful Group 3 but X-15 Pilot)
  
• Al Altwell (Unsuccessful Group 3 but Usaf astronaut Selection)
  
• James Irwin (Unsuccessful Group 3 but OK 1966 Selection)
  
• James Bagian (Unsuccessful Group 8 but OK Group 9)
  
• John Blaha (Unsuccessful Group 8 but OK Group 9)
  
• Roy Bridges (Unsuccessful Group 8 but OK Group 9)
  
• John Casper (Unsuccessful Group 8 but OK Group 10)
  
• Bonnie Dunbar (Unsuccessful Group 8 but OK Group 9)
  
• Bill Fisher (Unsuccessful Group 8 but OK Group 9)
  
• Guy Gardner (Unsuccessful Group 8 but OK Group 9)
  
• Ron Grabe (Unsuccessful Group 8 but OK Group 9)
  
• Millie Hughes-Fulford (Unsuccessful Group 9 but OK as Payload Specialist for STS-40 In 1991)
  
• Byron Lichtenberg (Unsuccessful Group 9 but OK as Payload Spacialist for STS-9 and STS-45)
  
• John Lounge (Unsuccessful Group 8 but OK Group 9)
  
• Robert Springer (Unsuccessful Group 8 but OK Group 9)
  
• James Adamson (Unsuccessful Group 9 but OK Group 10)
  
• Jay Apt (Unsuccessful Group 9 and Group 10 but OK Group 11)
  
• Ken Cockrell (Unsuccessful Group 9, Group 11 and Group 12 but OK Group 13)
  
• Linda Godwin (Unsuccessful Group 9 and Group 10 but OK Group 11)
  
• Marsha Ivins (Unsuccessful Group 9 but OK Group 10)
  
• Bill Shepherd (Unsuccessful Group 9 but OK Group 10)
  
• Tom Akers (Unsuccessful Group 11 but OK Group 12)
  
• Mike Clifford (Unsuccessful Group 11 and Group 12 but OK Group 13)
  
• Mike Foale (Unsuccessful Group 10 and Group 11 but OK Group 12)
  
• Don Mcmonagle (Unsuccessful Group 11 but OK Group 12)
  
• James Newman (Unsuccessful Group 11 but OK Group 13)
  
• Gary Payton (Unsuccessful Group 11 but OK as Payload Specialist for STS-51c)
  
• William Readdy (Unsuccessful Group 10 and Group 11 but OK Group 12)
  
• Ken Reightler (Unsuccessful Group 11 but OK Group 12)
  
• James Voss (Unsuccessful Group 11 but OK Group 12)
  
• Dan Bursch (Unsuccessful Group 12 but OK Group 13)
  
• Nancy Currie (Unsuccessful Group 12 but OK Group 13)
  
• Michael Fossum (Unsuccessful Group 12, 13, 14 and Group 15 but OK Group 17). the most persevering
  
• Bernard Harris (Unsuccessful Group 12 but OK Group 13)
  
• Gregory C. Johnson (Unsuccessful Group 12 but OK Group 17)
  
• Bill Mcarthur (Unsuccessful Group 12 but OK Group 13)
  
• Ellen Ochoa (Unsuccessful Group 12 but OK Group 13)
  
• William Pailes (Unsuccessful Group 12 but was OK as Mse for STS-51j)
  
• Donald Pettit (Unsuccessful Group 10, 12 and 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• Joe Tanner (Unsuccessful Group 12 but OK Group 14)
  
• Carl Walz (Unsuccessful Group 12 but OK Group 13)
  
• Jeff Williams (Unsuccessful Group 12 and Group 14 but OK Group 16)
  
• Jeff Wisoff (Unsuccessful Group 12 but OK Group 13)
  
• Jay Buckey (Unsuccessful Group 13 but was OK as Payload Specialist for STS-90)
  
• John Grunsfeld (Unsuccessful Group 13 but OK Group 14)
  
• Scott Horowitz (Unsuccessful Group 13 but OK Group 14)
  
• Michael Lopez-Alegria (Unsuccessful Group 13 but OK Group 14)
  
• Mark Polansky (Unsuccessful Group 13 and 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• Mark Stucky (Unsuccessful Group 13, 14 and 15 but was NASA Test Pilot In Dryden)
  
• Scott Altman (Unsuccessful Group 14 but OK Group 15)
  
• Dan Burbank (Unsuccessful Group 14 and 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• Dom Gorie (Unsuccessful Group 14 but OK Group 15)
  
• Rick Husband (Unsuccessful Group 14 but OK Group 15)
  
• Richard Mastracchio (Unsuccessful Group 14 and 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• Pam Melroy (Unsuccessful Group 14 but OK Group 15)
  
• Stephen Robinson (Unsuccessful Group 14 but OK Group 15)
  
• Dave Brown (Unsuccessful Group 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• Yvonne Cagle (Unsuccessful Group 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• Laurel Clark (Unsuccessful Group 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• Kevin Ford (Unsuccessful Group 15 and 16 but OK Group 18)
  
• Pat Forrester (Unsuccessful Group 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• Joan Higginbotham (Unsuccessful Group 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• Stanley Love (Unsuccessful Group 15 but OK Group 17)
  
• Michael Massimino (Unsuccessful Group 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• William Mccool (Unsuccessful Group 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• John Phillips (Unsuccessful Group 15 but OK Group 16)
  
• Shannon Walker (Unsuccessful Group 15, 16, 17 and 18 but OK Group 19). another great persevering
  
• Clayton anderson (Unsuccessful Group 16 but OK Group 17)
  
• Gregory Chamitoff (Unsuccessful Group 16 but OK Group 17)
  
• Chris Ferguson (Unsuccessful Group 16 but OK Group 17)
  
• Mike Foreman (Unsuccessful Group 16 but OK Group 17)
  
• George Zamke (Unsuccessful Group 16 but OK Group 17)
  
• Jose Hernandez (Unsuccessful Group 17 and 18 but OK Group 19)
  
• Tom Marshburn (Unsuccessful Group 18 but OK Group 19)

...etc. I'm sure I forgot someone.

posted 08-07-2007 08:28 PM               

Some of the later astronaut selections were not culled from the general public, per se, but from people who had applied previously. That would account for some didn't make the cut initially making a later cut.

I would also venture that the requirements for Payload Specialists being different than the ones for Mission Specialists as a reason for some flying as a PS yet not getting accepted as a NASA astronaut.

posted 08-08-2007 12:22 AM               

And if there is a set number of people who can be selected for each class, it's quite likely that several interviewees who wowed the selection committee still didn't make the cut...for the simple fact there wasn't enough room to take everyone.

posted 08-08-2007 12:26 AM            

Mike Collins (Unsuccessful Group 2 Selection but OK for Group 3)

His book Carrying the Fire contains a good discussion of both his rejection for group 2, and his selection for group 3. The book also has a pretty detailed description of the astronaut selection board he was on for group 4, and the process they used.

posted 08-08-2007 07:34 AM               

- The selection process is competitive. You chose the best. So if you have a group of 100 and want to fill 10 posts, you take the best 10 competitors. Candidate 11 is still very good, but didn't make it this time. Next time the field of competitors maybe completely different.

- The selection procedure gives points for certain achievements, experiences, degrees, etc. Two or three years later, a candidate who failed in one competition might have acquired more experience and/or degrees in the meantime and thus fare better.

- Selection criteria might change.