So, what kind of formal education do you need to go to space?
The good news is that modern attitudes have shifted to the idea that space needs ALL types of people. This is due to several factors, but is especially a result of the rise of automation in space technology and the realization that people from many other fields of study can successfully train for spaceflight, even if they didn’t formally study aerospace engineering.
First, let’s take a quick look at the history of formal education among astronauts.
Historically, the educational backgrounds of astronauts at publicly-funded space agencies (any space agency run by the government and funded by tax dollars) largely fell in the realm of engineering, especially aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering. The first astronauts were also pilots, typically test pilots in the military, as this background provided the experience astronauts needed to operate the first spacecraft. As time went on, it became unnecessary for every astronaut to need a pilot background ‒ only one dedicated pilot was needed for multi-person crews like the Soyuz and Space Shuttle missions ‒ but the need for an aerospace-engineering dominant background remained.
Here are some additional sources to read on the educational backgrounds and alma maters of astronauts from the inception of human spaceflight until today:
Now, space is quickly becoming a possibility for many dreamers outside the realm of engineering and the military. Pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) degree is a WONDERFUL choice and will undoubtedly provide you with a robust foundation for the pursuit of spaceflight and astronautics. I highly encourage you to pursue a STEM degree if that is where you find your passion and aptitude. But if you find that STEM subjects are not your strongest suit, don’t count yourself out just yet. You will still have to learn a handful of technical and engineering-related skills, but not having your main knowledgebase in STEM subjects is not an automatic disqualifier for pursuing a career in spaceflight.
In addition to the idea that space needs all types of people, it should be noted that you absolutely do not have to attend any particular school in order to have a chance at a career in spaceflight. The schools that current and past astronauts have attended are indeed excellent schools, but attending a particular school will not guarantee you a career in spaceflight or an appointment as a astronaut at a publicly-funded space agency.
You should choose a school that best fits your own goals as well as the lifestyle you are looking for (location, environment, etc.). With cost also being a serious factor for any educational endeavor, you should not pressure yourself to attend a high-cost school if the burden of the expense is too much to handle. If attending a certain school is your absolute dream, then of course, pursue all avenues for making that dream a reality, but in the same way that attending a certain school will not guarantee a career in spaceflight, attending a pricey one does not guarantee any specific results, either.
So what’s the bottom line on education for those of you who want to go space? It’s this:
Your education is important, but education alone, including the location and cost of it, will not be the sole defining factor of a potential future in space. A combination of formal education, professional development/career-specific training, and networking will provide you a solid background for the coming democratization of space.
This guide was created with the purpose of providing you all of those resources in an effort to help you design your own roadmap to space. On the following pages, you will find links to the best astronautics-related professional development programs in the world as well as recommendations for the best organizations to join to help you network and find opportunities with likeminded individuals and groups.
Note: This section will soon be expanded with more information on education for aspiring astronauts.