Answer to this week's riddle

Travis Hale

Again, the riddle:  

This is a very selective profession, the most recent applicant pool (the 21st ever) had 6300 suitors vying for 9 to 15 positions.  Not even the requirement to learn Russian is dampening enthusiasm.

Answer:  U.S. Astronaut.

Source: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=35953