What you need to know before becoming an astronaut: To look

In the popular imagination, Being an astronaut requires exciting journeys in space, exploring the vastness of the universe and unknown worlds while having fun. However, this profession, which is almost always in the top 10 of children’s professional dreams, may not be that glamorous and may require a lot of dedication and time.

With this in mind, it is important to know what the key requirements are that space agencies like NASA consider when selecting star rovers. But before we discover What does it take to become an astronaut?Let’s remember how the profession emerged.

first astronauts

The term astronaut comes from Greek and means: “navigator of the stars” or “sailor of the stars”. That sums up just one of this professional’s duties.

The first group of astronauts was created by NASA in 1959.. These seven men, known as Mercury 7, were the first to consider the possibility of space travel.

Since the beginning of the space program, 360 astronaut candidates have been selected, 61 of whom are women, according to NASA data. Among those elected is Marcos Pontes, the first Brazilian astronaut who is now a senator.

The history of space travel is still relatively young and there is much to discover. Can you be the new space explorer?

How to become an astronaut?

To become an astronaut, some conditions must be met. First of all, you need to graduate from STEM courses corresponding to the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

You’ll also need to have at least two years of experience in the field, depending on the degree. Teaching or participating in doctoral groups counts as directed professional experience. Finally, Being an astronaut involves many other activities besides traveling to space. If you do not have hands-on experience in training, you must have at least 1,000 proven flight hours.

It is very important to have good visual acuity. We are currently accepting candidates who have undergone corrective surgery using PRK and LASIK techniques. However, you have to wait a year for the result to be proven satisfactory. Excellent physical fitness is also required due to the differences in temperature, pressure, gravity, among other variables found in space.

Case If the desired position is with NASA, you must have American citizenship. However, you can always check what the prerequisites are from other space agencies, for example ESA (European Space Agency).

In 2021, ESA launched a program for paratroopers. The first physically disabled astronaut was John McFall. When he was 19, one of his legs was amputated in a motorcycle accident.

Astronaut or space tourist?

Becoming an astronaut requires a long period of training and education, and you may just want to observe things from above. Same Many of these professionals will not immediately embark on extraterrestrial flights after receiving training and passing the astronaut training program..

The majority of the work will be done in the field and training will always be kept up to date in case there is a call. Another point is that flights to the International Space Station (ISS) are scientific in nature, so they are more work and not tours.

If you prefer comfort and beautiful views Thanks to space tourism, you can become a new kind of cosmonaut. Companies such as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic have space travel packages at altitudes of 100 kilometers and 80 kilometers above average sea level.

There is a trend for companies to increase the number of trips in the coming years, and if you don’t have $450,000 to finance a trip, you can enter some of the raffles that space tourism companies occasionally hold.

To infinity and beyond!

Being an astronaut involves many physical and often cognitive skills. Being a “know-it-all” is very useful in this profession. If you are really interested in space exploration, There is another way to know and explore space; for example, through astrophysicists, astronomers and other professions..

Whatever your choice, remember that there’s a whole universe to explore, whether you’re an astronaut or not. You can even take a look at some of the Brazilian Space Agency’s projects that produce space science in our country.

Did you like the content and want to know more about the universe? So find out why NASA doesn’t use pens in space. Stay tuned to TecMundo for more extraterrestrial news!