A Mercury astronaut trains in the gimbal rig to learn how to
recover if his space capsule spun out of control.   Astronaut
Training  Applicants accepted as astronaut candidates report to
Houston, Texas, the site of NASA's primary astronaut training
facility. Known today as the Johnson Space Center (JSC), the
facility actually began in 1961 as the Manned Spacecraft Center.
In 1973, its name was changed to honor former president and
Texas native Lyndon B. Johnson, who died that January. The JSC
played a pivotal role in the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, space
shuttle and International Space Station programs. Over its
nearly 50-year history, JSC has trained more than 300 U.S.
astronauts and 50 astronauts from other countries. The training
process used today is the culmination of this considerable
experience.  The first phase starts with two years of basic
training. Much of this training takes place in the classroom,
where astronaut candidates learn about vehicle and space station
systems. They also study key discipline