Training.Īstronauts go through extensive training before flying in space. Most payloads launched today on the shuttle consist of modules, equipment, and supplies bound for the ISS. Payload management technicians and engineers prepare the payloads that are sent into space. Flight controllers also oversee space station operations. This group includes engineers and technicians who maintain the shuttles, planners who determine mission goals, the launch team that prepares the vehicle for takeoff, and flight controllers who supervise all aspects of the mission. NASA and its contractors maintain a small army of engineers and technicians who oversee every aspect of flying the space shuttle. Payload specialists usually must meet similar requirements. They may substitute a master's or doctoral degree for part or all of the work requirement. Mission specialists must have at least three years of professional experience in their field of expertise. Payload specialists tend to specific experiments or equipment during a flight. Mission specialists are responsible for coordinating activities on space shuttle flights, including overseeing experiments, managing payloads, and conducting space walks. Many pilots have experience in the military. NASA also prefers experience as a test pilot. Candidates must have at least 1,000 hours of experience commanding a jet aircraft. Candidates must be able to pass a rigorous physical examination and be between 64 and 76 inches tall.Ĭommander/pilot astronauts fly the space shuttle. Candidates for these positions typically need a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, engineering, physical sciences, or mathematics from an accredited institution. There are three categories of astronauts: commander/pilot, mission specialist, and payload specialist. However, if one has the "right stuff," one can become a star voyager. This is probably the most visible and interesting job in human spaceflight. Listedīelow are several broad categories of the jobs that exist in the early twenty-first century. A comprehensive listing of all of the job categories is beyond the scope of this article. There are tens of thousands of jobs in human spaceflight. Many smaller contractors provide goods and services to the government and other contractors. Boeing, for example, is the prime contractor on ISS, and the United Space Alliance (USA) oversees the shuttle program for NASA. People who are employed in human spaceflight usually work for government agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) or one of the many contractors that support those agencies. Seven astronauts could eventually live and work aboard the ISS on a full-time basis. This facility, which is scheduled for completion around 2006, is a collaborative effort of the United States, Russia, twelve European nations, Japan, and Canada. The International Space Station (ISS) is the focus of most human space activity. Other countries have human space programs, but their astronauts must fly aboard the American space shuttle or the Russian Soyuz vehicle. Only these two nations have launched people into space, although China is testing a craft that will be capable of supporting human space travelers. Most human spaceflight activity is concentrated in the United States and Russia. Human Spaceflight in the Twenty-First Century From engineers and physicians to web designers and educators, human spaceflight has career opportunities for anyone who is fascinated by the final frontier. Although being an astronaut is the career most commonly associated with human spaceflight, that position accounts for only a small proportion of the jobs in the field. Those who work in it are pioneers of an endless frontier filled with challenges,Īdventure, and scientific discovery. Human spaceflight is one of the most exciting professional fields today.
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