Despite having warned your parents that you will divorce them if they don't help you become an astronaut, they still send you to football or basketball in the afternoon. Luckily there is this article that comes to meet you! Read on to learn how to start your way to Lagrange points and how to literally project yourself into your future.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Meet the First Requirements
Step 1. You must be a citizen of a nation with a space program and an agency capable of sending humans into space
Even if your country has a space agency, know that you may be relegated to Earth work instead of navigating the sky as you wish. There are many states that "compete" in the race to conquer space, in one way or another, among them we remember the United States, China, Russia and the European Community.
- ESA (European Space Agency) collaborates with other agencies to send their astronauts aboard foreign rockets. It currently consists of 20 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Holland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Great Britain.
- NASA has had, in the past, astronauts from other nations with which it has entered into collaboration agreements. To name a few, we mention Canada, Japan, Russia and Brazil. All of these states have their own space agencies.
Step 2. Meet the age requirements
If you have just finished high school or are eligible for senior age discounts, then you are not a good candidate. ESA is looking for people aged between 27 and 37. NASA is slightly less strict on this and there are no specific age regulations; however, the astronauts who have been selected so far were between 26 and 46 years old. The average age is 34.
Step 3. Height
To meet the ESA requirements you must be at least 153 cm tall but no more than 190 cm.
NASA is looking for men and women with a stature between 157cm and 190.5cm
Step 4. Pass the physical fitness exam with flying colors
To become a NASA astronaut you need to have both far and near visual acuity of 10/10 for each eye (with or without correction). You can undergo LASIK surgery if it allows you to meet these criteria. Blood pressure should not exceed 140/90 when seated.
- Note that if you pass the first physical exam, other vision tests will be done. To pass this further selection, your optical distance correction must be between "+5, 50 and -5, 50 spherical diopters", if you have not had pilot training; if you come from the Air Force, your vision defect must be between "+2.50 and -4.00 spherical diopters". It should also be noted that, in case of astigmatism, this must not exceed 3.00 diopters (if you are not a pilot) or 2.00 diopters (if you are a pilot). The anisometropia should not exceed 3.50 diopters (2.50 if you come from the air force).
- ESA also has similar requirements. The European agency also requires a strong psychological resistance to stress. After all, you will be sent to live for months in a small closed room with other people. If you are aggressive, narrow-minded or stubborn you may not be suitable for travel.
Step 5. You must speak English
It is certainly not called the International Orbital Space Station for nothing! The fact is that most people will speak English and you will have to too if you want to work with people of any nationality.
Russian is also an important language. After the English, there is a strong Russian influence in the space field. Both NASA and ESA place great value on candidates who speak both languages fluently
Step 6. Learn to swim well
Since we are subject to gravity on Earth, everyday life is not useful for simulating life in space. Much of your training will take place underwater. If you can't swim, you probably won't pass the selections.
NASA will undergo military water survival training and make sure you are able to proceed in the water for 10 minutes as well as swim 75m in your spacesuit. You must also have a diving license. So sign up for the pool right away
Part 2 of 3: Academic Requirements
Step 1. Pass high school with flying colors
You must have the highest marks in all subjects, none excluded. Astronauts are very intelligent people. Mathematics and science are important, but English, history and political science are also not to be underestimated. You need to have a well-rounded education, not only because of your personal culture but also because your competitors will be ruthless. You will have to confront yourself with the "crème de la crème".
Obviously you are not a machine and you certainly cannot stop time. So if nothing else, focus hard on math and science because they will be the subjects you will be confronted with for at least the next ten years of training
Step 2. In college you must be an outstanding student
A bachelor's degree in math, physics, engineering, or science is a must (and you must get it from a university with a very good reputation). You can't afford to get distracted from university social life, your grades must be your top priority.
It would be great to be able to access the Air Force Academy where you can combine university training with military training. Your ultimate goal, in the military career, is to be the best pilot, preferably a test pilot, because you will be able to gain a lot of experience flying with experimental aircraft
Step 3. Complete an internship that is at least three years
You can get this accreditation either with work experience or through university study. Remember, in the latter case, that a master's degree counts as one year of internship and a medical degree as three years, regardless of how long it will take you to complete them.
- If you have piloting experience, you must have at least 1000 flying hours as a pilot-in-command on a jet. You must also have experience as a test driver.
- If you'd rather have work-related experience, find a job that is related to space studies or the military. For example navigation, piloting, computer science, chemistry and biology or command of a ship. Remember that teaching is also part of an astronaut's educational background, so if you are a university teacher know that you can apply.
Part 3 of 3: Logging in by Profession
Step 1. Consider enlisting
Although the military is not considered better or preferred than civilian candidates, however, be aware that a military career is a means to achieve your goal. In the army you will undergo training (both physical and mental) and will have the opportunity to work with airplanes. Two advantages that should not be underestimated.
NASA will give military personnel agreed appointments. The military will work on a schedule not allowed for civilians
Step 2. Apply
Civilians in the United States must complete a form available on the US government website, while active-duty military personnel must apply to their line manager (in addition to completing the online form).
The last selections for ESA astronauts were made in 2009. If you want to understand if you would have passed the selections, the tests are available online. NASA, on the other hand, carried out the last Houston tests in June 2013. Keep up to date to know when the next ones will take place
Step 3. You must be able to complete the training
NASA organizes it in Texas and it lasts about two years. ESA runs a similar program in Cologne, Germany for a period of 16 months. You will need to work underwater and in simulators, as well as study spatial relationships and the science that supports the technology. Great importance is given to biomechanics, engineering and astronomy. Both programs also include intensive Russian courses.
In NASA, civilians who complete the training program remain employees of the space agency for 5 years before becoming astronauts. Military personnel will be assigned for special duties on behalf of NASA
Advice
- Do everything in your power to be always involved and updated. Even in summer, study!
- Work hard. Strengthen your body, because your physical preparation will be tested to get the job. Training underwater and long periods in space deteriorate muscles, because weight doesn't matter in space. Keep yourself in perfect physical condition.
- Do not give up! Stay determined and think about your ultimate goal.
- Don't try to reach the ultimate goal all at once. Step by step you will get what you want. Study a lot.
Warnings
- From what has been written so far, it is better that you are not a very impressionable person if you wish to be an astronaut. When you're on a space rocket, where do you think the excrement goes?
- If you have severe motion sickness, you may want to consider working only on Earth.
- Although one of the most rewarding moments of an astronaut is sitting and enjoying the breathtaking views of the planet, remember that you are there to work. If you can't focus on that, astronaut may not be your profession.
- This job is not for the faint of heart. It is very dangerous. Both the Challenger and the Columbia disintegrated and Apollo 1 caught fire during normal training. All three accidents resulted in the death of the entire crew. If you are not harnessed correctly, you could fly away into space or re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.
