Career As An Astronaut

Did you dream of becoming an astronaut because you want to go to space? Most of us wanted to be astronauts when we were young and were first taught about the Solar System and the planets. That’s what piqued our curiosity to know more about whether life exists outside Earth. 

If you are also someone who finds this interesting and takes an interest to learn more about celestial events, you can definitely consider a career as an astronaut and fulfill your dreams. 

In this blog, we shall be discussing everything you need to know about what an astronaut does, what skills you will need to develop, where you can study, and where you can work. Read on! 

What Does An Astronaut Do?

Astronauts are highly skilled persons who can either pilot or fly a spacecraft into orbit. Astronauts are trained to work in space and undertake responsibilities such as 

• Medical and emergency services, maintenance, and other day-to-day operations.
• Astronauts are part of missions that can span several weeks or months. Spending long periods of time in enclosed environments with low gravity is an example of what an astronaut does.
• Identifying issues in a particular research area.
• also in charge of the research project.
• One of the most significant things that astronauts do is go to space and conduct specific observations, investigations, and research that is relevant to their mission.
• Astronauts are required to mentally and physically prepare for life in space prior to any mission. They attempt to learn skills that will be useful to them in space while attempting to live in zero gravity for various days.
• Conduct various studies to look into extraterrestrial life. They must learn about various astrological topics and facets of space.

Job Roles As An Astronaut

• Pilot Astronauts: Pilot astronauts pilot and command space shuttles. They may also command missions to Mars or the moon in the near future. Astronauts with a focus on missions collaborate with pilots to launch satellites, conduct experiments, and maintain spacecraft and equipment.
• Mission Specialist Astronauts: Mission specialists are taught to be in charge of running the payload and experimental operations, as well as operating the shuttle or space station systems, during a mission. Additionally, mission specialists engage in extravehicular activities (space walks).

Salary in different stages of the career as an Astronaut

Skills Required To Be An Astronaut

To pursue a career as an astronaut, here are a few skills you need to develop.

1. Getting used to being weightless/walking in space
   Candidates for astronaut training must become accustomed to weightlessness and learn how to walk in space. The ship stays in Earth’s orbit, and the elliptical excursions it takes can make people sick.

2. Piloting experience in a jet aircraft
   Astronaut candidates must have three years of relevant professional experience or 1,000 hours of “pilot-in-command” jet pilot experience. 

3. The ability to use robotic arms
   Learning how to manoeuvre robotic arms is one of the numerous jobs assigned to astronauts. The robotic arm for the Mars InSight Lander is 5′ 9′′ long, with a camera placed on it that gives 3D views of the landing site and locations for measuring instruments.

5. Multitasking abilities that are second to none
   Astronauts are multitasking masters. They are required to execute experiments, assist in the operation of the International Orbit Station, and maintain equipment while in space.

6. Must have excellent vision
   Astronauts, like airline pilots, must have 20/20 vision, though those with 20/20 vision aided by spectacles will not be disqualified. Aspiring candidates who undergo surgery to improve their vision to 20/20 must wait at least a year before beginning training.

7. Being the appropriate height
   To fit in a space capsule that can be a cramped space, these candidates must be between 5′ 2′′ and 6′ 2′′ tall.

8. Strengthening the core
   Astronauts must develop upper-body strength in order to be seated upright, move around, and withstand the microgravity environment in space. Riding in extraterrestrial vehicles is physically challenging, so they’ll also require strong core muscles. 

9. Having knowledge of maintenance and repair
   Astronauts, particularly those who will work on the International Space Station, need to be able to maintain and repair their equipment. Before embarking on flights to the space station, companies like DynCorp International prepare them to perform mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical repairs on aircraft.

10. Being able to deal with a variety of situations
    These candidates also put themselves in situations that others would avoid. Some former military personnel has volunteered for missions in Iraq, while others have braved the harsh Antarctic cold or gone mountain climbing.

11. Ability to handle pressure
    Astronauts are under a lot of stress due to their time in zero gravity, the variety of duties they are forced to complete, the loneliness in space, and the risk that their lives could be taken away at any time. 

12. Swimming skills are required
    In their first month of training, candidates must pass a swimming test. They must swim three laps of a 25-meter pool without pausing, then repeat the process in a flying suit and tennis shoes. 

Is Being An Astronaut A Good Career Option?

As exciting as it might sound, a career as an astronaut is very challenging. Becoming an astronaut by itself is very difficult. The procedures are very time-consuming and the eligibility requirements are something that agencies do not compromise on. 

Nonetheless, if you get into the field, you have immense opportunities to grow and explore. Imagine going into space and discovering the unknown. You would get to represent the country internationally and gain recognition by participating in various missions. 

Getting selected as an astronaut is very prestigious. There are many job openings in the field of research for those considering an astronaut career. People who choose a career as an astronaut are primarily needed in industries like space research, science, technology, production, etc.

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Top Recruiters In India For Astronauts

Here’s a list of top recruiters where you can seek a job to start a career as an astronaut.

1. Aerospace Industry
2. Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
3. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
4. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
5. National Aeronautical Laboratories (NAL)

Courses To Upskill As An Astronaut

If you want to know more about your career as an astronaut, here are a few courses you can consider. 

Course Name	College	Duration
A Brief History of Human Spaceflight	University of Houston	1-3 months
Digitalization in Aeronautics and Space	Technische Universität München	3-6 months
Digitalization in Space Research	Technische Universität München	1-4 weeks
The Brain and Space	Duke University	1-3 months
The Science of the Solar System	Caltech	1-3 months

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Education Qualifications

Degrees In India 

If you want to pursue a career as an astronaut, here are a few undergraduate and postgraduate courses you can take.

Undergraduate Courses 

1. B.Tech Aerospace Engineering
2. BSc Astrophysics
3. B. Tech Aeronautical Engineering

Postgraduate Courses 

Course Name	Duration
MTech Aeronautical Engineering	2 years
PhD Engineering & Technology	3-5 years

Degrees Abroad

Professional academic training from a recognized institution is necessary to aspire to pursue a career as an astronaut. For Indian students who want to be admitted to universities abroad, admission is based on academic excellence in the pertinent subjects and the IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, or GRE scores.

Undergraduate Courses 

1. Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics
2. Bachelor of Science in Physics
3. Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics
4. Bachelor of Science in Astronomy

References 

The following books are essential reading for anyone who aspires to pursue a career as an astronaut:

• An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield
• Earthrise: My Adventures as an Apollo 14 Astronaut, by Edgar Mitchell
• Endurance – A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly
• Flying to the Moon – An Astronaut’s Story by Michael Collins
• To Space and Back by Sally Ride

Here’s a list of notable Indian-origin astronauts

1. Rakesh Sharma

First Indian to travel to space in 1984

2. Kalpana Chawla

The first Indian-origin woman who flew to space

3. Ravish Malhotra

Served as a backup for Rakesh Sharma on the Soyuz-T 11 mission

4. Sunita Williams

The second Indian-American astronaut at NASA

5. Dr Swati Mohan

Indian-American scientist at NASA

FAQs about the career as an Astronaut