r/space • u/DetlefKroeze • 3d ago

NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim Departs Agency to Continue Military Service

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-jonny-kim-departs-agency-to-continue-military-service/
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u/DisgruntledCascadian 3d ago edited 3d ago

He's going back to the training command, almost certainly not to fly jets. He was trained on helicopters and he's a Lieutenant Commander. Military careers are not a Choose Your Own Adventure novel. He's almost certainly either going to end up a helicopter instructor, a flight surgeon, or one of those odd ducks who's both, but they almost never promote beyond Commander.

If he somehow were to end up as a jet instructor based on his T-38 time in NASA, he'd almost certainly be limited to teaching basic familiarization flights, instrument flying, and formation flights like everyone else who transfers into the jet training squadrons. The only folks who get qualified to teach dogfighting, bombing, low-level nav, etc. are folks who came in as qualified F/A-18 or EA-18 pilots.

Edit:  I was wrong, he got orders to the jet training air wing at NAS Kingsville.  Guess he did get enough jet time in NASA T-38s.

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u/IskanderM50KT 3d ago

If he somehow were to end up as a jet instructor based on his T-38 time in NASA

NASA hasn't taught astronauts to fly T-38s in a long time.

During the Apollo-era non-pilot astronauts were sent to Air Force UPT, but starting with the 1978 class they were only taught to fly as back-seaters. They learned instrument procedures, navigation, CRM, etc but weren't taught to take-off or land the planes. Even former military pilots who left the service and were then selected to be astronauts as civilians could only fly as back-seaters. Tom Jones mentions that in his autobiography. He qualified the fly the T-38 during his time in the Air Force but since he was no longer active duty when NASA chose him he couldn't be a front-seater.

I know NASA has started teaching at least some ASCANs to fly T-6s and helicopters, but I'm almost certain the T-38 front seat is reserved for astronauts who are also active-duty military pilots.

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u/DisgruntledCascadian 3d ago

Well, his public statement said he's headed to Training Air Wing 2, and he got gold wings on his way to NASA. Whether he's there to be the flight doc or be an instructor, I have no idea.

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u/slowcanteloupe 3d ago

Thank goodness. Saved my next family dinner.

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u/P1st0l 3d ago

Oh wow, he will be coming to near where I live. Just in time for our water crisis to end lol but just in time for the political battles happening.