what classes?

[cyrostir]

alright, I'm heading into my junior year in high school<br />I am very interested in having a space exploration related career, what classes should I take or avoid in order to maybe get a future job at a organization at nasa or something of the sort.......I am very good with computers, maybe a software programmer....whatever, just need some guidence please

 

[kmarinas86]

<font color="yellow">I am very interested in having a space exploration related career, what classes should I take or avoid in order to maybe get a future job at a organization at nasa or something of the sort.......I am very good with computers, maybe a software programmer....whatever, just need some guidence please</font><br /><br />Physics I and Physics II AP <br /><br />Perhaps take some electronics courses in college.

 

[nevers]

I found this bit of information:<br /><br /><font color="yellow">"Any adult man or woman in good physical condition who meets the basic qualifications, including U.S. citizenship, could be selected to enter astronaut training. <br /><br />QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS<br />The minimum requirements include a bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or mathematics from an accredited institution. However, an advanced degree is desirable. Additionally, all applicants must have substantial directly related experience and pilot astronauts must have at least 1,000 hours of experience in jet aircraft. Information on specific experience requirements, as well as additional medical and physical requirements, can be obtained from the Johnson Space Center."</font><br /><br />The above information was found at this website: USAJOBS<br /><br />There is also more information, requirments and how to apply at the website.<br />

 

[lunatio_gordin]

what constitutes "Substantial directly related experience"?

 

[ehs40]

im going to be a sophmore and i think that taking some high math clases would be a good idea 2 like trigonometry and calculous

 

[lunatio_gordin]

I'm also going to be ajunior. i find everyone's ridiculously non-descript about saying how to get there. Everyone says "do what you like." no one tells you actually how to get there. But if you go to the website provided earlier, and here's a nother one:<br />http://astronauts.nasa.gov/content/broch00.htm<br />that's the official page. It says you can NOT at any means have vision correction surgery, but you can have any vision that can be corrected to 20/20. it also lists majors for college that won't help you get into Astronaut candidate training. And another piece of info : Over 30 astronauts have come from MIT. <br />hope you guys will be in my candidate class <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[ehs40]

i have better then 20/20 in 1 eye and like 20/70 in my other eye so if i were to get contacts that would be cool?

 

[lunatio_gordin]

I can't see any other way you could correct it. Glasses aren't particularly practical in space <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br />Basically, don't have surgery if you want to fly. I'm sure, though, as Virgin Galactic progresses, they'll allow people with surgery to fly.

 

[ehs40]

but i just would want to be a mission specialist not the piolot tho it would be cool to fly what would be the cev when our class graduated

 

[lunatio_gordin]

I used to want to fly, but i really don't care, any spot on the spaceship's as good as any other <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br />It doesn't say just pilot candidates must have that vision, however. It's everyone, as best i can tell.

 

[ehs40]

shoot helping to work on the mission would be fine with me

 

[lunatio_gordin]

not me, My name's got to be in the history books or i'll never be happy.

 

[ehs40]

well u raise a good point maybe i will be the first astronuat to go up without perfect vision i mean the eye dr. said there is nothing wrong with my sight i just have a slow developing eye so who knows i start on my high school football and basketball team and i can see just fine but i will find out when i go to nasa

 

[pu_aero]

NASA loves a good researcher. If your school has a science fair program, get in on that. Putting together a solid project in high school can be a great first step in a research career, as well as a great way to set yourself apart from among the throngs applying to all the good schools.<br /><br />It can also be a good sanity check to help you become certain what you want to do with yourself. I myself did a rather involved biological project for several years in High School. It went very well for me, I earned my share of awards, and learned alot. (And also used it to talk my way into a part time job in a fungus/plant biology lab at University a year-and-a-half ago.) However, in the end, it turned me off a career in biology research. Too frustrating having the subject of my research (my little cell culture) controlling me rather than vice versa.<br /><br />Once the research bug bites, though, it sticks. I'm quite happy with the engineering research I've been doing lately. <br /><br />So look into science fair at your school and see how it suits.

 

[lunatio_gordin]

at our school, all we have is the dumb "science Olympiad". I tried it in middle school, it was very boring. they have no interesting competitions. and i don't know anyone else who's even remotely interested in science. They have an astronomy class, but i paged through the textbook and realized i already knew most of it <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" />

 

[ehs40]

the science fair project is a great idea i'll look into it my school has won some compition 2 years in a row now so i'll cheak it out this year

 

[vogon13]

<br />There is no such thing as Accounting in real life.<br /><br />Think French classes are a hoax to.<br /><br />Has anyone, anywhere ever, as a matter of real practical necessity, had to do a quadratic equation in <i><b> real life </b></i>?<br /><br />Be honest now.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

real life? you mean, not on the internet?<br /><br />..no..?

 

[pu_aero]

The Intel ISEF is the network of science fairs I got involved in. Check out their Website: http://www.sciserv.org/isef/index.asp<br />And see if there are any affiliated fairs not too far away from you: http://www.sciserv.org/isef/aff_fairs/aff_fairsearch.asp<br /><br />Then all you need is a willing science teacher you can talk into supporting you and you're off!<br /><br />My school had a great program for it. The bio teacher in charge had a class period set aside where 10-12 students had science fair independent research "class" each fall semester. We usually swept the awards at the regional fair and had some quite impressive projects. A number of us (myself included) did our work at labs at a local college. The teacher was a great resource, with her contacts at that school, knowledge of external funding resources, and general help in developing projects.

 

[pu_aero]

btw, since you're interested in computer programming, look into "Agent Based Modelling." NASA is taking interest in this concept to model and attempt to improve the civil aviation transport system.

 

[lunatio_gordin]

nope, not one near here. just in the capital and the nearby large city...

 

[Saiph]

The reason people are so vague as how to achieve that goal is that it isn't a cut and dried method. Most of it is the person. Focus on the sciences, work hard, and try to get into NASA. If the person is good enough, they'll find a position.<br /><br />Furthermore, most work before, and including a bachelor's degree in college isn't specific training in a field. It's training in general, on how to think, how to solve problems, what to look for. <br /><br />For example, the most valuable skill I have as a physicist (well, having a B.S. in physics) is not the ability to pick up a circuit board and copy it, or create a great computer simulation, or design a vacuum system from scratch. It's my ability to understand the system, their uses, and <i>learn</i> how to do those things if required. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"This is my Timey Wimey Detector.  Goes "bing" when there's stuff.  It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually.  I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>