Can you become an astronaut with ADHD?

NASA's Guidelines on ADHD

New applicants to become crew must take part in a blood test as part of the application process. NASA's guidelines state that "Candidates on specific medications will be disqualified: Examples- blood pressure medications, blood thinners, seizure medications, daily allergy medications, diabetic insulin daily, sleeping aids, ADHD/ADD medications, antidepressants, anxiety medications."

Do Some Astronauts have ADHD?

Scott Kelly, the first American to complete a year-long mission in space and hold the record for the longest space mission by an American, revealed in a recent interview with the Santa Barbara Independent that he never believed being an astronaut was an option due to his attention issues. He shared that if he were a child today, he would have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. Kelly, who was born in 1964 before ADHD was officially recognized, struggled with paying attention in school and found it impossible to focus. However, he enrolled in the Navy ROTC program at the State University of New York Maritime College, which provided the structured environment he needed to succeed.

Kelly discovered his passion for space exploration after reading Tom Wolfe's book, The Right Stuff, in a college bookstore. This led him to become a Navy pilot and eventually an astronaut who completed four space missions, totaling 382 days in space. After retiring from NASA in 2016, Kelly is currently writing a memoir titled Endurance: My Year in Space and Our Journey to Mars, which Sony Pictures acquired the movie rights to.