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Nasa astronauts space editing for first12/20/2023 "If you want to get into space, now's a great time to do it," says Virts.RELATED: 'Mighty mice' sent to space could yield new treatments for bone, muscle loss The opportunities to travel into space - with NASA, alongside other space agencies from around the globe, or as part of a commercial venture - are growing by the day. If after reading this, you're still interested in becoming an astronaut, you are in luck: the space industry is busier than ever. "Maybe you took a class from a Nobel laureate, and you got an A, but all the Nobel laureate is going to say about you is, 'Oh, well, so-and-so took my class and earned an A.'" "Don't just list famous people who really don't know you," adds Chiao. Image: Getty ImagesĪs much as you might be tempted to pick the most accomplished person you know to be your referrer, if that person won't be able to really give the interviewer a true glimpse of who you are, then you may as well have left that section blank. The STS-92 crew, including Leroy Chiao, wave to onlookers Octoas they gather outside the gate to Launch Pad 39A where space shuttle Discovery waits in the background for liftoff. "Everybody can write a good resume, but really what it comes down to is what do other people think of you?" "What really differentiates candidates from each other is what other people have to say about them," says Chiao. "You don't sit around and think about equations and write them on blackboards - you're doing stuff."Īnother part of the application that is worth paying attention to is your references. "Being an astronaut is about doing operational things," Virts adds, explaining why an unusual background like race car mechanic can add value. And I was like, 'wow, that's interesting.'" "I remember this one lady had been a race car mechanic. "My last job before I retired a few years ago was going through these applications, and they're all the same," says Virts. In addition to the skills you have, interesting life experiences can be worth sharing because they set you apart from other applicants and might be enough to make your application get pulled up for the next round. "For me, I had done an exchange with the French Air Force Academy, and I spoke French, minored in French, and I think that's why I got picked, because I had foreign language skills," says Virts. Terry Virts and his colleagues wave farewell before boarding the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft for launch, Novemin Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Pick a career that will fulfill you, even if you don't get picked. However, it is also important to be realistic about the odds - which aren't exactly in your favor. Of course, it's important to pick a career that aligns with your end goal of becoming an astronaut. is an easy way to do that," says Virts.Īlso: The new space race will drive innovation. "You get 12,000 applications, and you just need some way to 500, and a Ph.D. can be a key way to make yourself stand out. in chemical engineering.Īlthough the minimum requirement to apply is a master's degree, having a Ph.D. Chiao graduated with a degree in chemical engineering at Berkeley and then attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. He chose another route and pursued academia instead. However, before he committed himself to the Air Force, a physical exam revealed that his left eye was no longer 20/20, and therefore he couldn't commit. Image: Terry VirtsĬhiao initially almost took the fighter pilot route as well and joined the Air Force ROTC as a sophomore at the University of California at Berkeley. Getting ready to take to the skies as a pilot. So, what are some career choices you can make to increase your chances of getting selected? Even if you have all of the above qualifications, you'll be up against thousands of other people who also dream of becoming astronauts - so you have to make sure you exceed the expectations.įor the 2021 Astronaut Candidate Class, 12,000 people applied and only 10 were selected, according to NASA. The final requirement is a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in a jet aircraft, according to NASA.Īll of the requirements listed above are the minimum requirements, and are of course no way near enough to guarantee you a spot. The first NASA requirement is being a US citizen, and if you check that mark, your next step is getting a master's degree in a STEM field (check out NASA's approved degrees first) at an accredited institution. "You're getting radiation in space that doesn't exist on Earth, so that's part of the deal." What does it take to become an astronaut? I've had a couple of bouts with skin cancer since my first spaceflight," he says. Virts recognizes the risks: "The radiation is definitely an issue.
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