It's about bloody time. Here is the email I got for the AF side, but it looks like all services have a shot. Requires a serious degree and some brains.

Astronaut applications available for May board


RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Active duty Air Force
members have the opportunity to compete for pilot and mission specialist
crew positions with the nation's space program through the Air Force
Astronaut nomination program.


Air Force nominees will compete with representatives from
the other services for the chance to become an astronaut candidate and
serve with NASA. Applications must be postmarked for the Air Force
Personnel Center by Feb. 25.


The Air Force astronaut nomination selection board convenes
here May 13-16 to select nominees. An Air Force medical screening panel
will then determine whether or not the nominees meet NASA physical
standards.


The Air Force will then submit pilot and mission specialist
astronaut nominees to the secretary of defense for consolidation with
other military service nominees; the list is then forwarded to NASA for
processing, evaluation and interview scheduling.


NASA plans to announce the names of those individuals
selected to participate in the astronaut program in May 2009 with
selectees reporting to NASA in August 2009. Individuals selected as
astronaut candidates will enter a one-year training and evaluation
program. After this period, those selected as astronauts will serve a
five-year tour with NASA.


Air Force members who want to compete for astronaut pilot or
mission specialist positions must follow applications procedures
outlined in Air Force Instruction 36-2205, and the HQ AFPC/DPA AL 8106
announcement message. Enlisted members are restricted to mission
specialist only. The final list of Air Force nominees will be released
approximately three weeks after the AFPC board adjourns.

All nomination criteria are NASA standards and are not
waiverable by the Air Force.

To qualify for nominations to NASA in the pilot astronaut
category, individuals must:

* Be a commissioned officer on active duty in the Air Force.

* Be a United States citizen.

* Have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in
engineering, mathematics, biological or physical sciences (technology
and management degrees do not qualify, i.e., aviation management,
aviation technology, engineering technology, etc.).

* Have a minimum of 1,000 hours pilot-in-command (aircraft commander
or higher qualification) time in jet aircraft (flight test experience is
highly desirable).

* Have a current Flying Class II (long physical) completed on or
after Aug. 13.

* Height between 62 and 75 inches.


To qualify for nomination to NASA in the mission specialist astronaut
category, individuals must:


* Be a commissioned officer or enlisted member on active duty in the
Air Force.


* Be a United States citizen.


* Have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in
engineering, mathematics biological or physical sciences (technology and
management degrees do not qualify, i.e., aviation management, aviation
technology, engineering technology, etc.). Degree requirements are not
waiverable. Degree must be followed by at least three years of degree
related, professional experience. An advanced degree is desirable and
may be substituted for all or part of the experience requirement
(master's degree equals one year, Ph.D. degree equals three years).
Quality of academic preparation is important. Officer and enlisted
aircrew duty counts toward the degree-related experience requirement.


* Have a current Flying Class II (physical) completed on or after
Aug. 13.

* Height between 62 and 75 inches.