Management Astronauts

Management astronauts are those experienced crew members who, because of their experience, have been promoted to other positions within NASA that are critical to the management of NASA's programs, or those astronauts on special duty assignments, sabbaticals, or administrative leave making them unavailable for direct support to the Astronaut Office. Depending on the needs of NASA, the astronaut can remain eligible for future space flight assignment and can return to active status at some future date. The management  assignments are considered career development for those astronauts who become mission commanders or leaders of major mission activities.  There are currently 37 astronauts at NASA in management status.