Do you ever lay down on the grass, gazing at the stars, longing to become an astronaut? Well, if that’s your dream, you'll have to do more than just lie here. The field demands commitment and dedication, and you can only secure a spot if you're passionate and well prepared.
As of April 2020, only 566 people out of eight billion have traveled to space—this one stat is enough to emphasize this industry's competitive nature. Most astronauts are associated with NASA, which means they went through a very rigorous recruitment process.
In this blog, we’ll share the steps that go into the process of becoming an astronaut.
NASA’s Artemis program plans to put the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024. In fact, the new SLS rocket will carry humans further into space and will eventually let them leave their footprints on Mars!
Time to get hustling, right? The first part of the acceptability criteria is fulfilling the educational prerequisites. Similar standards are set by other countries too. The following are the key points to note:
Note: The Master’s degree can be replaced by a doctoral program or a nationally recognized pilot school program.
Becoming an astronaut requires mental and physical strength. Space agencies look for highly potent candidates who can meet their strict physical assessment criteria.
As an astronaut, you’ll be living in restricted and confined spaces for extended durations. There's significantly little human interaction, and hence, a high affinity for teamwork is vital for survival. The intense physical criteria include (but are not limited to) the following elements:
Moreover, skills like analytical, communication, critical thinking, stress management, decision-making, mechanical, problem-solving, and self-disciplinary skills are imperative.
Lyle Tavernier, an Educational Tech Specialist at NASA/JPL, shares the following expert tips for students who wish to pursue a career in this field:
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