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Common misconceptions of astronauts?

I'm a 7th grader who hopes to pursue a career in aerospace and eventually become an astronaut. I am aware that millions of students find space cool, but very few build the profile that space agencies look for. What misconceptions do ambitious students have about becoming astronauts that can actually hurt their chances in the long run?

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Philip’s Answer

Looking at the history of astronauts, many of them have advanced degrees and many of them are engineers. I believe NASA requires a master's degree in a STEM field at minimum. Being a Pilot helps a lot but there's a lot more that needs to happen in space than flying the craft alone. Many of the American astronauts that have been in space are former military and in excellent physical condition. The amount of stress space travel puts on the body means you need to be physically strong as well as mentally strong. In fact, all Astronauts have to pass a flight physical.

Don't let anyone dissuade you from what you want to do. Make sure you set clear goals and understand that becoming an astronaut will take immense discipline, education and may require you to sacrifice your personal time to achieve your goals. You will also likely have to geographically relocate to a place/city where a space agency or government works, and you will be away from family often (Astronauts are often sequestered for weeks prior to a mission).

I recommend researching Engineering and Science majors and see which one will likely get you closest to becoming an astronaut. I do have a friend that works for NASA building satellites, and he is an Electrical Engineer with a background in nuclear power.

Hope this Helps! Best of luck!
Thank you comment icon Thank you, this helps a lot! I'm planning to major in Aerospace Engineering and undergo pilot training alongside my studies. Shiloh
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Claxton’s Answer

Hi there, Shiloh. One misconception people may have about astronauts is that they are all from a military background. Astronaut-pilots, those who control spacecraft in flight, invariably do have military background because they are required to have a minimum number of hours flying high-performance aircraft - that is, supersonic jet fighters. And although many astronaut-specialists, those who go on missions because of their specific area of expertise, do have military background, it is not required. However, they are usually required to have a degree in a STEM field as are astronaut-pilots. Many astronauts have doctorates, and some are doctors.

If your goal is to study Aerospace Engineering, depending on which university you go to, it may be the most difficult major to matriculate into after completing your basic engineering courses. During my time as a student at North Carolina State University, for example, students had to have a 3.0 GPA in their basic engineering courses, taken during the first year or so, to move into Aerospace Engineering. (The major I originally took up, Civil Engineering, only required a 2.4 GPA.) Getting good grades in the STEM fields is important, but so too are good grades in subjects like English, History, and any elective courses you choose.

I hope that you achieve your goal of earning a degree in Aerospace Engineering and becoming an astronaut!
Thank you comment icon Thank you, I will keep that in mind! Shiloh
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