Anchorage native chosen as one of NASA’s next 12 astronauts

ANCHORAGE — More than 18,000 applied to become the next in the class of NASA astronauts, and on Wednesday, 12 were chosen. Among them was Alaskan Robb Kulin, a graduate of Service High in Anchorage, a former commercial fisherman in Chingik, and current employee with SpaceX, a spacecraft company in Hawthorne, Calif. that designs, manufactures and launches spacecraft.

Kulin, 33, will keep that job until Aug. 21 when he officially transitions from an astronaut candidate to a astronaut-in-training. The selection fulfills a dream that, he said, really took flight when he was an undergrad at the University of Denver majoring in mechanical engineering, but the taste for adventure was kindled in Kulin as a young child. He remembers watching in amazement and awe when Mary Johnson summited Denali when he was in the third grade.

“It’s a little overwhelming; like going from 0 to 100 in three seconds,” Kulin said in a phone interview from NASA headquarters in Houston. “Being from Alaska I always had that nature of wanting to explore things.”

The two-year whittling process from 18,000 to 12 involved was an exhaustive one.

“Eventually, there was a group of 120 people in groups of 10 for three days of interviews and medical checks and from that you whittle it down another 50,” he said. “Then there’s another week of interviews and hands-on exercises to see how you behave in different instances.”

Kulin said NASA wasn’t just looking for healthy people, but for pleasant people, too.

“If I am going to be stuck in a confined space with this person, I’m looking for someone the crew will work well with,” Kulin said. “I got lucky enough to be one of those this time.”

In August, Kulin and his cohort will begin an intensive two-year training session.

“It’s kind of like going back to flight training school,” he said. “We’ll be learning Russian to be able to work with our counterparts at the International Space Station; we’ll do spacewalk training and even survival training.”

This class could include the first astronauts to travel to Mars, a mission that seems appealing to Kulin, but also comes with downsides.

“I think Mars would be incredible, but of course, being away from home on a two-year mission would be hard to fathom,” Kulin said. “We’ll see what amazing missions are out there.”

Kulin said he currently tries to come back to Anchorage a couple times each month. His family and girlfriend live here. Those visits will be rarer once Kulin becomes an astronaut-in-training.

Undeniably, though, Kulin takes Alaska with him everywhere he goes and he credits what his home state has taught him in getting as far as he has.

“I’d like to think there’s an Alaska aspect that had something to do with it. There’s a lot of great people with great character out there.” he said. “Of course I’ve done engineering in Antarctica, was a commercial fisherman. In Alaska, there were a lot of opportunities given to me there. The inspiration I got from the Engineers and Explorers Club, really helped lead the way.”

In true Alaskan pioneering spirit, Kulin hopes the inspiration people glean from his success is to pursue things they truly want to do.

“For kids, or anybody really, it’s important for people to follow their passion and dive into it and find something they’re passionate about in life,” he said. “Don’t get stuck in a rut. If something’s not as fun anymore, jump over and try that.”