Astronauts don't have a mandatory retirement age like many other professions.
Instead, they are evaluated regularly based on their physical and mental fitness, as well as their performance.
If they meet the requirements, they can continue to fly missions until they choose to retire.
NASA's current age limit for astronaut candidates is 46, but there is no upper limit for astronauts already in the program.
Factors Influencing Retirement:
- Health: Astronauts undergo rigorous physical and mental evaluations to ensure they are fit for spaceflight.
- Performance: Their performance on missions and in training is constantly assessed.
- Personal Choice: Astronauts can decide to retire at any time, based on their personal goals and priorities.
Examples:
- John Glenn: He became the oldest person to travel to space at age 77 in 1998.
- Peggy Whitson: She holds the record for the most cumulative time spent in space by a woman, retiring in 2018 at age 57.
