4 answers
Shiloh
Student
Indonesia
3
Questions
Updated
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Experience/Achievements for the aviation field?
I'm a 7th grader who hopes to pursue a career in aerospace and eventually become an astronaut. Currently I'm building my portfolio to get a scholarship that can boost my career. Looking at the backgrounds of people who eventually become astronauts, what experiences or achievements seem to matter much more than students realize, and which ones matter less?
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4 answers
Anuj Gupta
Software Engineering
320
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Anuj’s Answer
It is incredibly impressive that you are already planning your portfolio in the 7th grade. Having a goal like becoming an astronaut gives you a massive head start because it allows you to build habits over the next ten years that space agencies heavily value.
When NASA, ESA, or private space companies select astronauts, they are not just looking for the smartest person in the room; they are looking for operational capability and "expeditionary skills." Here is a breakdown of what experiences and achievements actually matter when building an aerospace/astronaut portfolio, versus the ones that students often overemphasize.
What Matters Much MORE Than Students Realize
1. "Operational" and High-Risk Environments
Space agencies want to know: How do you react when you are cold, tired, stressed, and a mistake could be dangerous? Showing that you can operate calmly under pressure is priceless.
Scuba Diving (SCUBA Certification): This is one of the best things an aspiring astronaut can do. Spacewalk training happens underwater in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Being comfortable breathing underwater translates directly to space suit operations.
Aviation & Flying: You don't need to be a military fighter pilot anymore, but earning a private pilot’s license (PPL) as a civilian shows you can manage a complex vehicle in a three-dimensional environment.
Extreme Wilderness/Survival Training: Programs like NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) or becoming an Eagle Scout. Living in a tent in freezing weather with a team teaches "expeditionary skills"—how to take care of yourself and your crew when conditions are miserable.
2. Teamwork and "Followership"
Everyone tries to prove they are the "leader." But on the International Space Station or a mission to the Moon, you spend most of your time being a follower who supports someone else’s leadership.
Team Sports or Robotics: Being a reliable teammate who doesn't complain, communicates clearly, and helps resolve conflicts quietly is a massive green flag for selectors.
Multilingualism: English is the standard, but learning a second language (historically Russian, but increasingly others depending on international partnerships like Artemis) shows extreme mental flexibility.
3. Long-Term Depth Over Surface-Level Variety
Instead of joining ten clubs just to put them on your resume, pick one or two things and stick with them for years. If you join a model rocketry club or FIRST Robotics in 7th grade, stay with it through high school, and eventually become a mentor or engineer for it, that shows grit.
What Matters LESS Than Students Realize
1. Purely "Paper" Achievements and Perfect Grades
The Reality: Obviously, you need excellent grades to get into a top-tier university for your Master’s degree or PhD (which NASA requires). But a student with a perfect 4.0 GPA who has never left the library will lose a spot to a student with a 3.7 GPA who is a certified rescue diver, fixes their own car, and speaks two languages. Space agencies need doers, not just test-takers.
When NASA, ESA, or private space companies select astronauts, they are not just looking for the smartest person in the room; they are looking for operational capability and "expeditionary skills." Here is a breakdown of what experiences and achievements actually matter when building an aerospace/astronaut portfolio, versus the ones that students often overemphasize.
What Matters Much MORE Than Students Realize
1. "Operational" and High-Risk Environments
Space agencies want to know: How do you react when you are cold, tired, stressed, and a mistake could be dangerous? Showing that you can operate calmly under pressure is priceless.
Scuba Diving (SCUBA Certification): This is one of the best things an aspiring astronaut can do. Spacewalk training happens underwater in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Being comfortable breathing underwater translates directly to space suit operations.
Aviation & Flying: You don't need to be a military fighter pilot anymore, but earning a private pilot’s license (PPL) as a civilian shows you can manage a complex vehicle in a three-dimensional environment.
Extreme Wilderness/Survival Training: Programs like NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) or becoming an Eagle Scout. Living in a tent in freezing weather with a team teaches "expeditionary skills"—how to take care of yourself and your crew when conditions are miserable.
2. Teamwork and "Followership"
Everyone tries to prove they are the "leader." But on the International Space Station or a mission to the Moon, you spend most of your time being a follower who supports someone else’s leadership.
Team Sports or Robotics: Being a reliable teammate who doesn't complain, communicates clearly, and helps resolve conflicts quietly is a massive green flag for selectors.
Multilingualism: English is the standard, but learning a second language (historically Russian, but increasingly others depending on international partnerships like Artemis) shows extreme mental flexibility.
3. Long-Term Depth Over Surface-Level Variety
Instead of joining ten clubs just to put them on your resume, pick one or two things and stick with them for years. If you join a model rocketry club or FIRST Robotics in 7th grade, stay with it through high school, and eventually become a mentor or engineer for it, that shows grit.
What Matters LESS Than Students Realize
1. Purely "Paper" Achievements and Perfect Grades
The Reality: Obviously, you need excellent grades to get into a top-tier university for your Master’s degree or PhD (which NASA requires). But a student with a perfect 4.0 GPA who has never left the library will lose a spot to a student with a 3.7 GPA who is a certified rescue diver, fixes their own car, and speaks two languages. Space agencies need doers, not just test-takers.
Teklemuz Tesfay
Software Engineer and Career Mentor
681
Answers
Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz’s Answer
Focus on building a strong foundation in math and physics, and stay curious by working on small projects like robotics, coding, and astronomy. These activities are more valuable than just collecting certificates because they show true understanding. Enhance your learning through real-world and virtual experiences such as NASA and ESA mission simulators, science camps, volunteering, and Zooniverse. Use free resources like NASA/ESA materials and OpenStax textbooks to support your growth. Develop essential technical skills like analytical thinking, logical reasoning, programming, and data interpretation through structured practice with math challenges, Khan Academy coding projects, and real data analysis. Also, work on soft skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, adaptability, and resilience through group projects and clubs.
By consistently building these skills and experiences, you will be well-prepared for future aerospace opportunities and long-term goals like becoming an astronaut.
By consistently building these skills and experiences, you will be well-prepared for future aerospace opportunities and long-term goals like becoming an astronaut.
Thank you for this wonderful advice! Will definitely use these resources.
Shiloh
You’re welcome! Glad it helped.
Teklemuz Tesfay
Anuj Gupta
Software Engineering
320
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Anuj’s Answer
Focus on building transferable skills first: communication, analytical thinking, problem solving, and digital literacy. These open doors across many industries and give you flexibility as your interests evolve.
Anuj Gupta
Software Engineering
320
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Anuj’s Answer
It is incredibly impressive that you are already planning your portfolio in the 7th grade. Having a goal like becoming an astronaut gives you a massive head start because it allows you to build habits over the next ten years that space agencies heavily value.
When NASA, ESA, or private space companies select astronauts, they are not just looking for the smartest person in the room; they are looking for operational capability and "expeditionary skills." Here is a breakdown of what experiences and achievements actually matter when building an aerospace/astronaut portfolio, versus the ones that students often overemphasize.
What Matters Much MORE Than Students Realize
1. "Operational" and High-Risk Environments
Space agencies want to know: How do you react when you are cold, tired, stressed, and a mistake could be dangerous? Showing that you can operate calmly under pressure is priceless.
Scuba Diving (SCUBA Certification): This is one of the best things an aspiring astronaut can do. Spacewalk training happens underwater in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Being comfortable breathing underwater translates directly to space suit operations.
Aviation & Flying: You don't need to be a military fighter pilot anymore, but earning a private pilot’s license (PPL) as a civilian shows you can manage a complex vehicle in a three-dimensional environment.
Extreme Wilderness/Survival Training: Programs like NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) or becoming an Eagle Scout. Living in a tent in freezing weather with a team teaches "expeditionary skills"—how to take care of yourself and your crew when conditions are miserable.
2. Teamwork and "Followership"
Everyone tries to prove they are the "leader." But on the International Space Station or a mission to the Moon, you spend most of your time being a follower who supports someone else’s leadership.
Team Sports or Robotics: Being a reliable teammate who doesn't complain, communicates clearly, and helps resolve conflicts quietly is a massive green flag for selectors.
Multilingualism: English is the standard, but learning a second language shows extreme mental flexibility and helps with international space partnerships.
3. Long-Term Depth Over Surface-Level Variety
Instead of joining ten clubs just to put them on your resume, pick one or two things and stick with them for years. If you join a model rocketry club or FIRST Robotics in 7th grade, stay with it through high school, and eventually become a mentor or engineer for it, that shows grit.
What Matters LESS Than Students Realize
1. Purely "Paper" Achievements and Perfect Grades
The Reality: Obviously, you need excellent grades to get into a top-tier university for your Master’s degree or PhD (which NASA requires). But a student with a perfect 4.0 GPA who has never left the library will lose a spot to a student with a 3.7 GPA who is a certified rescue diver, fixes their own car, and speaks two languages. Space agencies need doers, not just test-takers.
2. Early Specialization in "Just Space"
The Reality: You do not need to study only aerospace engineering. Astronauts are geologists, oceanographers, medical doctors, computer scientists, and mechanical engineers. Space agencies value diverse expertise. Focus on becoming a world-class expert in any STEM field that fascinates you, rather than forcing yourself into aerospace if you find yourself liking biology or robotics more.
3. Fancy Summer Camps
The Reality: Going to Space Camp or expensive elite university summer programs is fun and educational, but selectors know these are paid experiences. They look much more favorably on self-driven achievements—like a project you built from scratch in your garage, a scholarship you won through an essay, or a local community service initiative you led.
Your 7th-Grade Action Plan for Scholarships
Since your immediate goal is securing scholarships to boost your career, here is what you can focus on right now:
Civil Air Patrol (CAP): If you are in the US, look into joining the Civil Air Patrol (the official civilian auxiliary of the Air Force). It is open to kids starting at age 12. It teaches aerospace education, leadership, and offers highly respected, low-cost flight training scholarships to teenagers.
Master the "Hands-On": Learn to build things, code, or fix mechanical objects. Join a school robotics team (like VEX or FIRST) or a coding club.
Document Everything: Start a digital notebook or portfolio file today. Keep pictures of things you build, certificates you earn, and logs of books you read about space. When you apply for high school and college scholarships later, you will have a goldmine of evidence showing your dedication.
When NASA, ESA, or private space companies select astronauts, they are not just looking for the smartest person in the room; they are looking for operational capability and "expeditionary skills." Here is a breakdown of what experiences and achievements actually matter when building an aerospace/astronaut portfolio, versus the ones that students often overemphasize.
What Matters Much MORE Than Students Realize
1. "Operational" and High-Risk Environments
Space agencies want to know: How do you react when you are cold, tired, stressed, and a mistake could be dangerous? Showing that you can operate calmly under pressure is priceless.
Scuba Diving (SCUBA Certification): This is one of the best things an aspiring astronaut can do. Spacewalk training happens underwater in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Being comfortable breathing underwater translates directly to space suit operations.
Aviation & Flying: You don't need to be a military fighter pilot anymore, but earning a private pilot’s license (PPL) as a civilian shows you can manage a complex vehicle in a three-dimensional environment.
Extreme Wilderness/Survival Training: Programs like NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) or becoming an Eagle Scout. Living in a tent in freezing weather with a team teaches "expeditionary skills"—how to take care of yourself and your crew when conditions are miserable.
2. Teamwork and "Followership"
Everyone tries to prove they are the "leader." But on the International Space Station or a mission to the Moon, you spend most of your time being a follower who supports someone else’s leadership.
Team Sports or Robotics: Being a reliable teammate who doesn't complain, communicates clearly, and helps resolve conflicts quietly is a massive green flag for selectors.
Multilingualism: English is the standard, but learning a second language shows extreme mental flexibility and helps with international space partnerships.
3. Long-Term Depth Over Surface-Level Variety
Instead of joining ten clubs just to put them on your resume, pick one or two things and stick with them for years. If you join a model rocketry club or FIRST Robotics in 7th grade, stay with it through high school, and eventually become a mentor or engineer for it, that shows grit.
What Matters LESS Than Students Realize
1. Purely "Paper" Achievements and Perfect Grades
The Reality: Obviously, you need excellent grades to get into a top-tier university for your Master’s degree or PhD (which NASA requires). But a student with a perfect 4.0 GPA who has never left the library will lose a spot to a student with a 3.7 GPA who is a certified rescue diver, fixes their own car, and speaks two languages. Space agencies need doers, not just test-takers.
2. Early Specialization in "Just Space"
The Reality: You do not need to study only aerospace engineering. Astronauts are geologists, oceanographers, medical doctors, computer scientists, and mechanical engineers. Space agencies value diverse expertise. Focus on becoming a world-class expert in any STEM field that fascinates you, rather than forcing yourself into aerospace if you find yourself liking biology or robotics more.
3. Fancy Summer Camps
The Reality: Going to Space Camp or expensive elite university summer programs is fun and educational, but selectors know these are paid experiences. They look much more favorably on self-driven achievements—like a project you built from scratch in your garage, a scholarship you won through an essay, or a local community service initiative you led.
Your 7th-Grade Action Plan for Scholarships
Since your immediate goal is securing scholarships to boost your career, here is what you can focus on right now:
Civil Air Patrol (CAP): If you are in the US, look into joining the Civil Air Patrol (the official civilian auxiliary of the Air Force). It is open to kids starting at age 12. It teaches aerospace education, leadership, and offers highly respected, low-cost flight training scholarships to teenagers.
Master the "Hands-On": Learn to build things, code, or fix mechanical objects. Join a school robotics team (like VEX or FIRST) or a coding club.
Document Everything: Start a digital notebook or portfolio file today. Keep pictures of things you build, certificates you earn, and logs of books you read about space. When you apply for high school and college scholarships later, you will have a goldmine of evidence showing your dedication.
Thank you for the advice! Now I have much more clarity on things I should focus on.
Shiloh