What should NASA do with its astronaut corps now that the shuttle has been retired? Expand it, says a new report. Even though NASA's long-term plans are uncertain, the report says adding astronauts would aid the development of new spaceships and minimise health problems arising from long and repeated stays on the International Space Station.
NASA's astronaut corps peaked in the year 2000 with around 150 astronauts. At the time, the space agency was launching frequent shuttle missions to build the International Space Station.
The number has shrunk since then to about 60. NASA estimates that it needs just 55 to 60 astronauts on staff through 2016, during which time their main task will be keeping the space station running.
Now the National Research Council (NRC), acting on a request for advice from NASA, says that number is too low to keep up with future demands.
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