Astronaut

Career Overview

Astronauts train and work as members of spaceflight crews, conducting scientific research, operating spacecraft, and supporting missions in orbit or beyond Earth. Their work can include experiments, spacecraft operations, spacewalks, robotics, and maintaining complex space systems. Astronauts also spend significant time on Earth training for missions, working with scientists, engineers, and international space agencies.

Education

A strong background in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics is essential. NASA currently requires astronaut applicants to have a master's degree in a STEM field, plus at least three years of related professional experience, while the Canadian Space Agency accepts candidates with strong science or technology backgrounds and advanced professional expertise

Work Environment

Astronauts spend much of their careers training on Earth in laboratories, simulators, aircraft, underwater facilities, and other specialized environments. During missions, they may live and work aboard spacecraft or space stations, conducting experiments, operating equipment, exercising, and maintaining systems in microgravity. The job requires teamwork, adaptability, physical fitness, and the ability to make decisions in demanding environments.

Future Outlook

Recommended High School Courses

Chemistry
Biology
Math
Computer Science
Physics
Science
Earth & Space Science

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Auditory Attention - The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Glare Sensitivity - The ability to see objects in the presence of glare or bright lighting.
Hearing Sensitivity - The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Night Vision - The ability to see under low light conditions.
Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Peripheral Vision - The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Rate Control - The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Response Orientation - The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Sound Localization - The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
Spatial Orientation - The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speed of Closure - The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Time Sharing - The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Pilot aircraft.
Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.
Respond to transportation emergencies.
Monitor engine operation or functioning.
Monitor work environment to ensure safety or adherence to specifications.
Inspect aircraft or aircraft components.
Arrange maintenance activities.
Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition.
Test performance of aircraft equipment.
Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
Coordinate flight control or management activities.
Meet with coworkers to communicate work orders or plans.
Resolve issues affecting transportation operations.
Record operational details of travel.
Train transportation or material moving personnel.
Plan flight operations.
Direct material handling or moving activities.
Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
Evaluate performance of applicants, trainees, or employees.
Provide transportation information to passengers or customers.

Schools

California Institute Of T...

Georgia Institute Of Tech...

Johns Hopkins University

Massachusetts Institute O...

University Of Michigan- A...

University Of Notre Dame

University Of Southern Ca...

University Of Texas- Aust...

Virginia Tech

Washington University- St...

Carleton University

Mcgill University

Mcmaster University

Queen's University- Ki...

University Of Manitoba

University Of Ottawa

University Of Sherbroo...

University Of Victoria

University Of Waterloo

USA

Canada

Potential Scholarships

Approx Salary Expectation

Low End:

$84,000.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$118,000.00 /yr

High End:

$162,000.00 /yr

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References

Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
PayScale, Inc., https://www.payscale.com/.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.
NASA. "Becoming Astronauts: Are You Next?" YouTube, 04 Mar. 2020, https://youtu.be/q5T9iYjt6Lk.