Training to be aboard a Space Shuttle Training to be aboard a Space Shuttle Space Shuttle crew members are categorized as shown below.
Commander has onboard responsibility for the vehicle, crew, mission sucess, and safety of flight.
A mission specialist is responsible for the total operation of the Shuttle, conducts system operations including robot arm operation, conducts Extravehicular Activity, and supports the Pilot. A payload specialist is an engineer who will fly on the shuttle when space experiment using special payloads which require a high level of professional knowledge will be conducted. PSs will not be involved in Space Shuttle operations. After finishing either of the two courses, he or she will take training courses while awaiting mission assignment. After a mission is assigned to an astronaut, he or she will attend to a training course peculiar to the mission.