Mike Massimino applied 4 times and was medically disqualified, but persevered.
Christopher Lusardi
Published: Apr 29, 2022
Publisher: Kasich & Klepper
It took me 4 tries to become an astronaut. I got rejected twice outright. My third time I was medically disqualified when I got an interview my third time. Back then, you had to see pretty well unaided acuity. It was kind of like the standard military requirements. They’ve changed all that now. But back then, I don’t’ even know if we had Lasik back then. Now, it’s acceptable. There is different things you can do if you can’t see very well. But, I could not see well. I could not pass the eye exam. And, I was marked medically disqualified. And, it was pretty disheartening because they couldn’t even consider my application any longer.
And, what I did is. I thought about it for a little bit and talked to people. And, I realized. I had to figure out a way to see better. I found naturally. I couldn’t do, as I said, Lasik or any of that. But, I did find an optometrist who worked with vision training, where you could try to improve your eyesight by doing exercises and these other techniques that she had.
And, I went to see her. She was a little surprised to see me because she only worked with kids. So, she saw me sitting in a chair. She’s like, well I only work with kids. I never worked with anyone over ten. But, I begged her. I said. I could be really immature. You won’t even know the difference.
So, she decided to help me. I was able to pick up a couple of lines on the eyechart just to become –requalified. So, they could consider it again. They can consider me again.
And then, I got another interview the next application, got by the eye exam and was selected.
The way I see it is that what I would tell people. If they’re interested in doing this or whatever they’re interested in.
The odds are maybe against you. And, I realized when I was. I remember watching astronauts on TV one time. I was at MIT cooking dinner and the news was on. Some astronauts were being interviewed. And, I knew that’s what I wanted to do when I saw that on the TV set. I knew. It’s clarity. I never forget looking at them. And knowing, that’s what I want to do.
And then, the thought that went through my mind was. But, you’ll never get a chance to do that. As you said, normal people don’t get to do that, right. ...
But, that really wasn’t the case. It was just unlikely. There’s a difference between impossible and unlikely. And, impossible might be one out of a million. But, for your mathematicians, that’s a non-zero outcome. That’s just point zero zero a lot of zeros and a one at the end.
The only way that one turns to a zero and you know what the outcome is going to be is you give up. Once you give up or you don’t try, you know what the outcome is. You’re certainly not going to achieve whatever it is you want to do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPG8WEldTnE&t=1653s
Christopher Lusardi
Mike Massimino - GLEX summit 2024
Publisher: GLEX Summit
Published: Aug 3, 2024
Mike was interviewed for the first time on his third application to become an astronaut.
He says the following.
I got a phone call to come in for an interview. The interview back then was a whole week of stuff, medical exam, social event, selection board interview. They get to know you very well. They got to know me very well. And with that information, they rejected me. So, I was 0 for 3.
I was also medically disqualified.
Now, these are things that change! Back then, you didn't have to see perfectly. But, you had to see pretty well without glasses with contacts. They didn't accept Lasik.
Now, they do accept Lasik. They accept other procedures, if you're interested. If you don't see very well don't cross if off the list of occupations any longer. But back then, you had to see pretty well. And, I failed the eye exam.
I thought there had to be a way around this. So, I wanted to at least be able to apply again. Because once you're disqualified, they won't look at your application anymore. So, I had to get that overturned before they could consider me.
I found out something called Vision Training, made an appointment with an optometrist in Houston, who did this Vision Training.
She took one look at me. And, she said I don’t think it’s going to work.
And, I said why not! You haven’t even. I haven’t even been hooked up to the machine yet. She goes well it only works with kids. She’s never had. Their eyes are still forming. And, their brains are developing.
And, she said. I never had a patient that was older than 10 years old. I said, Dr. (Desiree) Hopping I could be so immature. You won’t know the difference. And, I begged her. I was desperate.
So, she agreed to help me. And, I was able to pick up a couple of lines on the eye chart, just so I could send in another application.
And, I did that a couple of years later. And, the next time NASA was looking for people, got another interview, got through the eye exam, and was picked to be in the astronaut class in 1996.
Christopher Lusardi
ASL STREAM-"The Right Stuff" with Astronaut Mike Massimino (John H. Glenn Lecture in Space History)
Publisher: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Published: Aug 5, 2025
His story on how he became an astronaut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEhIwJ69Jkw&t=1285s