Aspiring astronaut Aspiring Astronaut – Help on my career path, Internships, suggestions, etc.?

Question by : Aspiring astronaut Aspiring Astronaut – Help on my career path, Internships, suggestions, etc.?
Ever since I got my first Lego set around 4-5 years old, I have been obsessed with engineering and science in general. At around age 7 I decided that I wanted to be an astronaut, and since then I have done everything I possibly could to make that a reality. (Summer camps, science clubs, robot teams, etc.)

Now I’m 19 years old attending college at the University of Texas in Arlington. I am working on my degree in Aerospace Engineering, and hope to obtain a doctorate within 10 years. Kalpana Chawla (one of the seven crew members aboard the Columbia in 2003) obtained a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1984 from UTA, so I feel that I am on the right path so far.

But now what do I do?

I have asked many people around campus, and spoken with my academic adviser… no one has given me a very concrete answer.

The responses are mostly “stick with the aerospace degree program” or “look around for internships” etc. Well, I have, but I don’t feel that is enough to get me where I want to go.

The internships/co-ops I have found online are very broad, none of them really say “this will help you be an astronaut… click here to apply” even on the NASA website. A lot of companies are also looking for students a little further along in their degrees such as juniors and seniors. I am only a freshman in my first semester of college, but a few companies I spoke with at the Intern/co-op job fair were taking freshmen of my status. So, even though I am limited at the moment, I know there are still a few opportunities out there for me now. Does anyone know of any good Internships that will help me reach my goal?

Also, I have noticed that many of the astronauts that were selected recently had some type of government background as well (like working for the CIA and such) Will a strictly science path work for my career choice? Or do I need some experience with the government too? If so, how do I go about doing this?

I run and work out daily; I eat NO processed foods, junk food, carbonated drinks, caffeine, etc. I keep my body VERY healthy.

Does anybody have any advice that will help me reach my goals? I want to know as much as I can before I get too far ahead down the wrong path. I am a freshman in my first semester at college, so if I need to change something, now is the time.

Thank you all!!!
Marvin B-

No, the only people who fail are the ones that don’t try. If I don’t make it as an astronaut, I wont consider my efforts a waste of time. I’ll have an excellent education and a degree that can get me just about ANY other job that I want. If I dont get to fly in space… oh well. I’ll get a job at Boeing, or lockheed.

Almost all of the people at NASA are 50yrs +. A very large chunk of NASA’s employees will be retiring around the same time I get my degree. There will be MANY job opportunities available to me.

I love science and engineering because it amazes me what we can do with our hands and minds. And no matter what happens, astronaut or not, I’ll get to be a part of it.

So, no. I don’t feel it will be a waste.

Best answer:

Answer by Marvin B
You’re going to spend your entire life trying to be an astronaut? What if you don’t make it(which is very likely)? You will have wasted your life…O__O

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