Since the first landing on the Moon, the career path of an astronaut became a dream for many people. Going on a space mission and exploring outer space are among the most exciting adventures. At the same time, it is a very competitive field that requires tremendous effort to get in.
However, becoming an astronaut is a perfect choice if you are passionate about astronomy and space. In this article, we’ll cover how to become an astronaut and what qualifications you need.
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First of all, it is possible. Young adults often do not believe they should even try to become an astronaut candidate. Yes, it is a challenging career to succeed in, yet it is worth the effort.
The possibilities grow daily, and space travel might soon expand to Mars and further planets. The more advancements in technology and computer science, the more opportunities appear.
Astronauts go through rigorous training and evaluation periods to join space missions. They may work on the space station or explore outer space. For instance, NASA’s next Moon mission is planned for 2024. They conduct experiments, work on innovative research, and operate spaceships or stations. It is a demanding yet very fulfilling career.
It is also important to realistically evaluate the competition. Now, there are only 39 active NASA astronauts. In the past 50 years, fewer than 600 people went to space.
In 2013, 6,000 people applied to NASA to become astronaut candidates. Only eight were accepted into the program after a long and detailed evaluation process.
In 2017, the number of astronaut candidates significantly grew – 18,300 people sent NASA their applications. NASA’s Johnson Space Center selected 12 of them. So, the acceptance rate for NASA is less than one percent. The competition for human spaceflight is tremendous.
However, there are more space institutions in the world. Moreover, there are other opportunities for becoming an astronaut. For instance, the European Space Agency (ESA) now accepts parastranouts – astronauts with physical disabilities. Even 15 years ago, it would sound like a work of fiction. But now, there are opportunities for different astronaut candidates out there.
Every astronaut institution or company has its specific expectations for candidates. Yet, these could be called a blueprint. Even if you are not aiming to work with NASA’s Johnson Space Center specifically, it is crucial to know the baselines.
A potential NASA astronaut should fulfill such requirements:
Aspiring astronauts can also meet the Master’s degree requirement with three alternatives:
Also, the astronaut program requires strong physical and mental health. Please note that these are the minimum qualifications needed for an application package. The more qualifications and credentials you have, the better.
There are two options for becoming an astronaut: you can go the science or military way. The first ever NASA astronaut candidates were selected from the US military personnel. The main reason was their piloting skills. Experienced pilots who knew how to operate a jet aircraft could also operate spacecraft.
A military path suits you if you want to become a piloting astronaut candidate. In this case, getting the proper experience and skills required is crucial. However, it doesn’t mean you won’t have to obtain a higher education.
Overall, astronauts have different responsibilities on the mission. There is a commander who is in charge of the mission and decisions. There is a pilot. And other astronauts play specialist roles. They conduct research, hold experiments, and maintain the spacecraft or the international space station work. They become space scientists and engineers.
A science path means you won’t be piloting the spacecraft and won’t require 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time. But you must be a skilled and knowledgeable specialist in your field.
Master’s degree in the STEM means one of the following fields:
These are the most common subjects necessary to work on a space mission or station. You must get an MA in one of them to become an astronaut candidate.
Besides a Master’s degree, space exploration programs require at least two years of professional experience. It has to be directly linked to your major. For instance, it can be aerospace engineering or programming work. Active duty military personnel wishing to become astronaut pilots should practice their flying and get more time in command.
Relevant professional experience should not be explicitly linked to a potential astronaut career. But it would help if it were. It is one of the exciting parts of astronaut positions – you can combine human space exploration with cutting-edge scientific research. Your Biological science knowledge can be applied to such extraordinary circumstances.
As for majors suitable for a NASA program, consider electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biological science, atmospheric science, physical science, astronomy, mathematics, geology, aeronautics, and computer science.
Physical requirements for an astronaut candidate are strict as well. Often, there are even height limitations. For instance, people lower than 5 feet and 2 inches or higher than 6 feet 3 inches might immediately be out of the space program.
All adults who dream of becoming an astronaut should be physically active, have blood pressure not higher than 140/90 when sitting, and have perfect vision. However, the vision part allows lenses. So, do not get discouraged immediately if your vision is not 20/20.
Applicants should not have any chronic diseases or conditions as well.
Mental Resilience and Teamwork
Active astronauts have to be mentally resilient. It is a challenging and stressful work. Your soft skills, emotional intelligence, and overall state will be crucial in hiring.
Some of the most essential skills for becoming an astronaut are:
Teamwork comes as a priority as well. Astronaut candidates might spend months in a very limited space with others. It is vital to work as a team and remain productive.
Understandably, when people talk about becoming an astronaut, they mean NASA. NASA hires the best of the best. And it is a world leader when it comes to successful space missions. But it is one of the agencies that recruit astronauts. Moreover, now people can go to space even as tourists if they have a lot of money. Here are some other agencies besides NASA that hire astronauts:
ESA, JAXA, and CSA have active missions to ISS. A CSA astronaut is joining NASA on a Moon mission, Artemis 2.
To become an astronaut, candidates have to pass the basic training. After you are accepted into the program, you’ll have a two-year training and evaluation period. Despite the name, it is not basic at all. It involves a lot of physical and scientific work. You’ll also have to learn Russian to communicate with Russian astronauts on the international space station.
During the two-year basic training, astronauts must get scuba certification and swim three laps in the pool while wearing a space suit.
Not everyone who is accepted into the program can finish basic training. Those who can become active astronauts. Now, they wait to get assigned to a mission. After that, they undergo formal mission training that can take a few years.
This part of the astronaut career also takes a lot of physical strength. Specialists train in full suits underwater to perform various tasks and operate heavy machinery. It is essential to prepare for zero and low-gravity environments.
Now you know how to become an astronaut. It takes at least a decade to qualify for a program and apply. After you are accepted, the preparation starts. And it often takes years before you go into open space.
However, this effort and risk astronauts take can be incredibly personally satisfying. At the same time, it can be a contribution to world problems. Astronauts on the ISS conduct cancer treatment research, for instance. They work on other projects and flight assignments that have the potential to change the world.
Not only do they expand our knowledge of the solar system and the world in general. They are at the forefront of science.
