Astronaut

[MJR]

I would like to be in NASA when I grow up. Regarding that, what should I be doing to help achieve that goal later in my life. Just so you know I am 13. What classes should I be taking in college?

 

[apollo13]

Well, I'm 10....as you may know... .

I am thinking the same.

 

[Coolhand]

I think it really depends on what exactly you want to do in space, some astronauts are pilots, some are scientists, some are engineers, etc.

I think you just have to be very good at what you do, so if you wanted to be a shuttle / spaceplane pilot you would probably have to be able to fly a regular plane first, then the best of those who apply are chosen to be astronauts, like in the old days you would find airforce pilots put into the space program to fly the capsules and whatever because they had the 'right stuff' and were the best of the best.

I'm sure NASA has more info for people seriously considering working in space, and when you guys are grown up there will no doubt be more opportunities for you than there are now.

 

[Mission_CDR]

I am sort of like MJR, want to work with NASA and don't know what I need to do, would Orbiter be any use to me if I wanted to be an astronaut? Or are there better things I could be doing?

 

[Mission_CDR]

P.S. I usually am the best at whatever I do (mostly acedemics).

 

[ryan]

You will have to be very good at school, pass through the air force or navy, maybe go to college get a degree in aviation mechanics or something. You just cant go up to NASA and ask to be an astronaut, they choose you, out of 1000 of other pilots.

 

[Mission_CDR]

Thanks, but what about my other question, will using Orbiter possibly help me at all?

 

[ryan]

Probaply and i wasnt answering your question, i was saying something to Apollo 13 (Carl) and MJR (Michael).

 

[silent_protagonist]

Check out http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/. I haven't spent a lot of time poking around there, but I'm sure you can find some useful information.

@ryan: Are all career astronauts still basically pilots? I know that NASA sends up people with other specialties for specific missions, but I was under the impression that there were many members of the Astronaut Corps with other specialties, who didn't have much experience as pilots prior to becoming an astronaut.

 

[ryan]

Check out http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/. I haven't spent a lot of time poking around there, but I'm sure you can find some useful information.

@ryan: Are all career astronauts still basically pilots? I know that NASA sends up people with other specialties for specific missions, but I was under the impression that there were many members of the Astronaut Corps with other specialties, who didn't have much experience as pilots prior to becoming an astronaut.

Harrison Schmitt.

 

[Ursus]

http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/content/broch00.htm

Basic Qualification Requirements
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements before submitting an application.
Applicants may meet the minimum requirements in one of two ways:
Astronaut Candidate (Non-Piloting background)

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. Quality of academic preparation is important. Degree must be followed by at least 3 years of related, progressively responsible, professional experience. An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for experience as follows: master’s degree = 1 year of experience, doctoral degree = 3 years of experience. Teaching experience, including experience at the K - 12 levels, is considered to be qualifying experience for the Astronaut Candidate position; therefore, educators are encouraged to apply.
2. Ability to pass the NASA long-duration space flight physical, which includes the following specific requirements:
   
   Distant visual acuity: Must be correctable to 20/20, each eye
   
   (NOTE: For those applicants under final consideration, additional visual screening will be performed to include the following standards: refractive error (distant vision)-cycloplegic refractive error must be between +5.50 and -5.50 diopters in any meridian. Astigmatism may require up to 3.00 diopters of cylinder correction. Anisometropia of up to 3.50 diopters. You are not required to provide this information with your initial application. We will request it later if needed.)
   
   Near visual acuity: Must be correctable to 20/20, each eye
   
   The refractive surgical procedures of the eye, PRK and LASIK, are now allowed, providing at least 1 year has passed since the date of the procedure with no permanent adverse after effects. For those applicants under final consideration, an operative report on the surgical procedure will be requested.

Blood pressure not to exceed 140/90 measured in a sitting position

Standing height between 62 and 75 inches
​

Astronaut Candidate (Piloting background)

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. An advanced degree is desirable. Quality of academic preparation is important.
2. At least 1,000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Flight test experience is highly desirable.
3. Ability to pass the NASA long-duration space flight physical which includes the following specific requirements:
   
   Distant visual acuity: Must be correctable to 20/20, each eye
   
   (NOTE: For those applicants under final consideration, additional visual screening will be performed to include the following standards: refractive error (distant vision)-cycloplegic refractive error must be between +3.50 and -4.00 diopters in any meridian. Astigmatism may require up to 2.00 diopters of cylinder correction. Anisometropia of up to 2.50 diopters. You are not required to provide this information with your initial application. We will request it later if needed.)
   
   Near visual acuity: Must be correctable to 20/20 each eye
   
   The refractive surgical procedures of the eye, PRK and LASIK, are now allowed, providing at least 1 year has passed since the date of the procedure with no permanent adverse after effects. For those applicants under final consideration, an operative report on the surgical procedure will be requested.
   
   Blood pressure not to exceed 140/90 measured in a sitting position
   
   Standing height between 62 and 75 inches

Lots more info. Start at: http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/

 

[Grimm94]

Hello MJR.

Really nice dreams you have. I am 13 too. But you must realize, that we still have a lot of time front of us, until college. Actually if you want to be an astronaut, you have to be a pilot first and after finish some trainings, when you can be chosen to be an astronaut. When you'll become an astronaut its not sure that they'll let you fly. There are many astronauts, who havent ever tasted the space. But I hope one day I'll see you in the Nasa. But until then we have to study hard.

Have a nice day

Grimm

 

[BlueDragon8144]

The closest thing to an astronaut I am doing right now is programming subsystems of satellites to be launched into space. It was always my lifelong dream to become an astronaut, ever since I saw my cousin building a monogram model of the Saturn V when I was really young. I hope to one day work for NASA and hopefully go into space.

 

[silent_protagonist]

Thanks for the info ryan and Ursus

I just thought of something interesting. Presumably, there are 500 CEO's of fortune 500 companies in the world today. And, again presumably, each one could afford the $20 million for a ticket on a Soyuz, if they wanted it badly enough. Compare that to the 472 people who have ever reached space professionally, and it would seem that your best bet for becoming an astronaut is a business degree, not piloting experience or degrees in science or engineering.

 

[simonpro]

Such people aren't professional astronauts, though. And those that are professional tend to look down upon the ones who pay for it.
hence the name "spaceflight participant", it sums it up very well:
You are here, good for you. Now stay out the way and let the proper astronauts do their work.

 

[apollo13]

But I just want to be a mission specialist in charge of science, and spacewalks when Orion goes in service.

Any comments?
But I'm not really sure if thats a good position...

 

[computerex]

I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a bit younger, however since then I have realized that the chances of being picked as a candidate for an actual mission are extraordinarily slim.

 

[spcefrk]

Work on Math and Science.

You're pretty free to choose what kind of science, but you'll want to get pretty adept at things like physics (if you want to be on the engineering side) or biology (if you want to be on the health side). All astronauts so far (except for the lucky free-riding congressmen) have at least a B.S. and those with more research background than military typically have at least a M.S. or a Ph.D so expect a lot of schooling.

The good news is that only the Undergrad education bites. Getting a Masters is pretty easy and enjoyable, and getting a Ph.D is like working in the field as a researcher already.

But being that you're in high school, be sure to go to a school with Aerospace Engineering or a good Physics Department (even if you don't want to major in either) because they tend to have connections with NASA and aerospace companies. And don't worry about trying to get into MIT and the like. I've never been too impressed with schools which are supposed to be the 'best' when it comes to student competitions. Study up for your SAT and ACT, do well, get your B.S. and be sure to work on something that makes you stand out. Working for NASA isn't too tough -- it's pretty easy to get attached to a grant or a project somewhere, and if you make good connections you can even work as an intern somewhere cool. I've got three friends who are sophomores spending their summers working out at NASA Dryden. Cool stuff!

 

[Coolhand]

There should be plenty more commercial opportunities for working in space though, as commercial sub-orbital flights are now a possibility and should only become more common... Flying a spaceship (even if it's only suborbital) would probably become nearly as mundane as flying an airliner and that didn't seem like a possibility at all when i was younger.

 

[thomasantony]

Well,
I also want to be an astronaut. Actually Orbiter was one of the major factors that caused this decision , about one and a half years ago. Being an astronaut was something I thought when I was little .. when I then forgot about and got focussed on getting a Computer-Science Engg. degree and make some cash .

Then came along Apollo 13 , Orbiter and some rather co-incidental circumstances (like learning the word "Aerospace Engg"when I saw it as the newest course in the course list of a nearby university But unfortunately it later got cancelled.)

That made me change my decision altogether. I mean this was something I was always interested in rather than a hobby which I occasionally got tired of ( A.K.A programming ). I kicked myself for not thinking of it before. I guess being an astronaut never crossed my mind as a possible career for me .

By then it was too late to apply for the entrance exams to the only colleges in India that offer Aerospace Engg ( I.I.Ts ) . So I went for the next best thing. Mechanical Engg. So now here I am , 19 years old, doing my first year in B.Tech ( what you call B.E everywhere else) Mechanical Engg. I do have some vague to solid plans on what to do afterwards .. I hope. SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, XCOR, Blue Origins and all also seem very promising.

Well thats abt me
~
Thomas