This title introduces readers to the job of astronaut. A short history of the profession is included as are famous astronauts such as Yuri Gagarin, Neil Armstrong, and Alan Shepard. Job duties of various NASA astronauts are covered, such as commander, pilot, mission specialist, and payload specialist, as are non-NASA positions in companies such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Orbital Science. Equipment needed to do the job right is discussed, as are the education and training needed to become an astronaut. Xtreme facts provide additional information on this exciting job. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. A&D Xtreme is an imprint of Abdo Publishing Company, a division of ABDO.