Outer space is a vacuum of vast and never-ending nothingness. Scientists are still unaware of how large our universe is, and many speculate that we may never truly know how far it reaches. To explore deep space, we send astronauts on missions to gather scientific data and report it back to Earth so that we can get one step closer to uncovering answers about our physical world and the galaxy surrounding it. While you may be familiar with famous astronauts such as Neil Armstrong or Sally Ride, their missions and their accomplishments would have been impossible without the hard-work put in by people behind the scenes.
The process to become an astronaut is physically and mentally grueling, time-consuming, and highly selective. In fact, there are currently only 45 active astronauts in duty at the NASA Astronaut Corps. However, if you are still interested in space exploration, there are many other outlets available for you to help advance space technology and the human colonization of outer space.
Working in the space industry is not limited to just astronauts. Space organizations such as NASA and SpaceX rely on a heavily interconnected network of professionals, from engineers to lawyers to financial analysts, to achieve their goals. Here are some potential careers within the space industry that you can pursue if being an astronaut is not your calling.
Engineers
Engineers are perhaps the most sought after career in the space exploration industry. While these engineers will never leave Earth, they play an integral role in making sure that all space-related technology, from the rockets to the space suits, are working correctly and efficiently. Within the “umbrella” of engineers, you can find aerospace engineers, computer hardware engineers, electronics engineers, and mechanical engineers.
Photos: GCTC/NASA/Andrey Shelepin, NASA/Bill Ingalls, NASA/Aubrey Gemignani, NASA/Victor Zelentsov
Aerospace engineers design and test rockets and other missiles for space missions. They play a crucial role in helping construct the main transportation vessel for astronauts. To become an aerospace engineer, one must have, at the minimum, a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. To learn more about what they do and explore their career, click here, and navigate through the tabs at the top to get an insider look into aerospace engineering.
Computer hardware engineers develop the computer systems that astronauts use in outer space. These computer systems are used for a variety of functions such as recording/collecting data or communicating with mission control back on Earth. To learn more about what they do and how to become one, click here.
Electronics engineers construct specific technological equipment in rockets, panels, and other air/space craft. They run routine maintenance procedures for this equipment as well. To learn more about what electronic engineers do, click here.
Mechanical engineers work with the other engineers listed above to help create certain products such as sensors, space tools, engines, and spacesuits. They also help to create the steering technology on rockets! To learn more about what they do, click here.
Media and Communications
Space-related careers are not just limited to people in the STEM field. There is a large array of professionals working in the media and communications teams at space company that help spread the word about the work of the organization to the public. They help the public understand the importance of the work being done and bring updates about research and other research being conducted. Their main goal is, “to explain the science of projects or discoveries in an easy-to-understand format.” Within the media and communications team, you can find photographers, producers, public relations specialists, and technical writers.
Photos: NASA/Joel Kowsky, NASA/Bill Ingalls, NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
Photographers help document the work being done at the space organization through photos and videos for the public to view. They work to document a project’s milestones, and their photos eventually become a part of the organization’s (or even government’s) historical record for future generations to view. To learn more about space photographers, click here.
Producers help to curate, design, and develop educational videos for the public. They direct the budgets for these short videos and work with directors, crew/actors, and video editors. Their role is extremely important in helping to inform the public about progress on certain projects or educate them about certain processes, such as how scientists develop telescopes for use in space. To learn more about what producers do, click here.
Public relations specialists help to update the public about space discoveries and advancements. They work with major news outlets, such as TV channels, newspapers, and online publications or other blogs, to release this information. They handle requests from the press and visit schools to give educational talks to the students. To learn more about this career, click here.
Technical writers help the public understand complex space concepts and projects in a format that is easy to understand. They work closely with scientists on the team and use photographs, diagrams, charts, and various forms of writing to educate others. To learn more about technical writers, click here.
Space Lawyer
This career is still relatively new in the legal field - and only 4 law schools in the world teach this topic, 2 of which are located in the United States. In “space law school”, students will learn a variety of legal topics, from asteroid mining to commercial space flight. Space law encompasses aspects of international law, legality of space exploration, use of weapons in space, environmental conservation, and rescue efforts, amongst various other things. While there are not many job openings available in this field at the moment, the demand for space lawyers is expected to rise in the near future as more and more private space organizations are opening and require legal advisors. To learn more about space law and law school, click here.
Doctor & Researcher
Scientists are still trying to figure out the effects of space on the human body. Currently, the physical requirements for being an astronaut are extensive. To be an astronaut, one must be between 50 - 95 kg, have 20/20 vision in each eye, measure between 149.5-190.5 cm tall, and have a blood pressure below 140/90 in a sitting position, amongst various other factors. Despite these strict requirements, there is lots of research being conducted on how space will affect different people.
To study this, doctors and researchers place test subjects in “space-like” environments for prolonged periods of time, often in desert ecosystems to mimic life on the moon or mars. Other private space companies such as VirginGalactic, are sending people with diabetes to space to study the effects of having a chronic condition in a space environment.
You can become a part of research teams like this and spend time in those earth-space environments!
Photo: NASA/Zabower
If you didn’t see your dream career on this list but are still interested in space and space exploration, don’t worry! NASA is opening a lunar base in 2024 that will be home to permanent residents, and many other organizations are sure to follow suit. There will surely be numerous new job openings in various fields once this happens.
Space exploration, however, is just getting started - we are still learning about the expansiveness of the cosmos and are still developing technology that will take the human race farther than we have ever gone before. In the next few decades, space exploration is sure to grow into a booming industry.
“In the words of John F. Kennedy - “Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said, “Because it is there.” Well, space is there, and we’re going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there.””
Vocabulary list:
To speculate (v.): to think about, make an educated guess
Deep space (n.): begins 2 million km from the Earth’s surface
Grueling (adj.): extremely difficult
Colonization (n.): settling in a new area and claiming it as your own
Integral (adj.): important to
Array (n.): various types
Missile (n.): a weapon that is launched remotely at a target
Vessel (n.): a large ship, boat, or other similar mode of transportation
To encompass (v.): to include or incorporate
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Annik Brar is a student at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. studying International Affairs and Psychology. In her free time, she manages a support page for people with Type 1 Diabetes. She also loves photography and traveling and can speak Punjabi and Hindi fluently!