What specialized skills do astronauts need?
Imagine life on the International Space Station, a deep space station (like the Hermes station in The Martian), or on an extraplanetary base, also like the base in The Martian, or Bowie Base One from Doctor Who.
Now remember what you learned in the overview for this guide: an astronaut should be “jack of all trades” and a master of some.
Think about your skillset in relation to the rest of your crew: if you, yourself, are not the doctor in your crew ‒ as in a licensed MD ‒ but your doctor gets sick or seriously injured, then you and the rest of the crew must have at least enough medical skills to help care for your doctor. If your lead engineer is the one to get sick or injured, you and the crew must be able to take over their responsibilities until they’re on their feet again.
You’ll notice that the blocks below are not hyperlinked like the ones in the Professional Development section. It would be impossible to list every single flight school, SCUBA school, EMT school, MakerSpace, etc., in the world. I encourage you to search the internet to find the locations of training schools near you.
Pilot/Drone License
While modern spacecraft are quickly advancing to run on autopilot, it’s still a good idea to learn how to fly. Getting a pilot’s license will typically also provide you with the education needed to get a drone license, which is a useful skill for modern times.
SCUBA Certification
The buoyant nature of of the underwater environment is currently the closest and most accessible way to replicate the feeling of microgravity. NASA astronauts even train at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory near Johnson Space Center to prepare for life onthe ISS.
EMT/Medical Skills
Medical skills are important for any aspiring astronaut, especially if you’re not a doctor or a nurse. As the very least, you should certify in basic first aid. Additional training like EMT school, phlebotomy, EKG technician, and more, will also be helpful for life in space.
Maker Skills
It’s crucial to pick up some “maker”-type skills in your astronaut journey, especially if you don’t pursue and engineering-related field in school. Maker skills are things like welding, soldering, basic electronics and robotics, and 3D-printing.
HAM Radio
While communications technology is constantly evolving and advancing, it’s always a good idea to learn the very basics. HAM radio (also called amateur radio) is still widely used all over the world by hobbyists and first responders alike.
Fire/Emergency Preparedness
To put it simply: a lot of your training for life in space will revolve around emergency preparedness. There have been numerous emergencies in space, including fires, toxic leaks, collisions, and power failures. You will need to be prepared for any situaiton.