A CAREER AS AN ASTRONAUT

A CAREER AS AN ASTRONAUT

• If you want to become an astronaut, you must be fit, not only physically but mentally also.

• You can be a teacher or a scientist and still become an astronaut.

• Usually, though, you can become an astronaut in one of these slots — as a a c o m - m a n d e r or co-pilot of a space shuttle; as a mission specialist; or as a
payload specialist.

• A mission specialist is a person who focuses on the special mission of that particular craft. It may have to do with conducting specific experiments, or testing a specific gadget.

• When the mission deals with doing multiple experiments, but you are still a specialist in one area only, you can then go as a payload specialist. Both payload specialists and mission specialists are essentially scientists.

What do you study?

You can’t study a specific subject which will directly make you an astronaut. But superior qualifications matter these days. A research background is of great help. So try and get a PhD.
Age will not be an obstacle, as long as you are fit, but the levels of f i t n e s s
expected are very high.

• Commanders or co-pilots of space shuttles at NASA are US citizens. But a mission specialist or a payload specialist need not be a US citizen.

• You need leadership qualities, but also team player abilities.

• Once selected, you will undergo rigorous training underwater and in simulation machines