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Consider joining the military. Apply for the job. Be able to complete training.
While military personnel are by no means considered above regular civilians, it is a means to an end. In the military, you'll get training experience (both physical and mental) and have the opportunity to work with aircraft. Bonus and bonus. NASA will give military personnel contracted appointments. They apply and work through a military program that regular citizens do not. Note that civilians of the US must submit an application through www.usajobs.gov, and all active duty military personnel must submit an application to their respective service (in addition to the website application). The last round of hiring ESA did for astronauts was in 2009. If you'd like to see how you would've fared, tests are available online. As for NASA, they had their latest round training in Houston as of June 2013. Keep an ear to the ground for the next hiring round! For NASA, training will take place in Texas and will last about 2 years. The ESA will put you through a similar program in Cologne, Germany for 16 months. You'll be working underwater and in simulators in addition to studying space relations and the science behind the technology. There's a heavy emphasis on human mechanics, engineering, and astronomy as well. Both programs will also immerse you in the Russian language. As for NASA, civilians who complete the training must remain a NASA employee for 5 years before becoming an astronaut. Military personal will be assigned to a specific NASA duty.