Astronaut
The ultimate aerospace career
Overview
Becoming an astronaut is the most competitive career in aerospace — NASA selects roughly 10-12 candidates from 12,000-18,000 applicants every four years. But the path is not a mystery. It requires elite STEM academics, operational experience (military test pilot or deep scientific expertise), peak physical fitness, and the ability to perform under extreme pressure. The astronauts who will fly to the Moon and Mars in the 2030s and 2040s will work more closely with AI than any previous crew — onboard AI will manage spacecraft health, plan EVAs, monitor crew medical status, and serve as mission advisors when communication delays make real-time ground support impossible.
Career Progression
STEM Foundation & Leadership
Excel in advanced math, physics, and computer science. Build leadership through CAP, JROTC, or competitive teams. Start flight training if possible.
Bachelor's & Master's in STEM
Earn a bachelor's in engineering, science, or math, followed by a master's (minimum NASA requirement). Top candidates often hold PhDs or MD degrees.
Operational Experience
Build 1,000+ hours of pilot-in-command time (military track) or lead significant research programs (civilian scientist track). Military test pilot school is the strongest single credential.
NASA Application & Selection
Apply during open announcements (every 4+ years). Survive multi-round screening: application review, interviews, medical evaluation, and team assessments.
Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) Training
Complete 2 years of training at Johnson Space Center: T-38 jet training, spacewalk training in the NBL, robotics, Russian language, survival skills, and AI systems familiarization.
Mission Assignment & Flight
Receive a crew assignment for ISS, Artemis lunar missions, or commercial station operations. Typical wait: 2-5 years after completing ASCAN training.
Key Facts
How to Get Started
Actionable steps you can take right now — no degree required.
Lock in your STEM academics
Take AP Calculus BC, Physics C, and Computer Science. NASA wants generalists who are world-class specialists in at least one STEM domain.
Read more → 02Get SCUBA certified
NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Lab simulates spacewalks underwater. PADI Open Water certification ($300-500) builds the water comfort every astronaut needs.
Read more → 03Join Civil Air Patrol or JROTC
CAP and JROTC build leadership, discipline, and access to the military pipeline. 10%+ of Air Force Academy cadets are former CAP members.
Read more → 04Start flying
Book a discovery flight and work toward your Private Pilot License. Flight experience strengthens both military and civilian astronaut applications.
Read more → 05Prepare for human-AI space missions
Future astronauts will partner with AI systems for navigation, medical diagnosis, and mission planning. Build AI literacy now — it will be a selection criterion by the time you apply.
Read more →Student Project Ideas
Hands-on projects related to this career path — pick your level.
Hands-on projects for students with basic math and science. No prior coding experience required — every project walks you through setup from scratch.
Browse Projects → Undergraduate 4 projectsEngineering and CS projects for college students. Expect to work with real industry tools, write substantial code, and produce results you can show in interviews.
Browse Projects → Advanced 6 projectsResearch-grade projects for grad students and ambitious undergrads. These involve cutting-edge techniques like PINNs, reinforcement learning, and multi-sensor fusion.
Browse Projects →Try These Projects
Satellite Image Classification
Teach a computer to read the Earth from space
AdvancedPhysics-Informed Neural Net for Aeroelasticity
Train a neural network that respects the laws of physics
High SchoolClassify Satellites with TensorFlow
Teach a neural network to tell a weather satellite from a GPS bird.
AdvancedML-Optimized Satellite Constellation Design
Use Bayesian optimization to find constellations that maximize coverage with fewer satellites
High SchoolTest and Compare Material Strength with a Simple ML Model
Break things on purpose, then teach a computer to predict the results
UndergraduatePredict Composite Laminate Failure with scikit-learn
Teach a model to predict how and where a composite will fail
Explore Further
Deep dives into the topics that shape this career path.
Military & Government
The backbone of American aerospace — and the most funded pathway in
Explore →Internships
Your hands-on entry point into aerospace
Explore →AI in Aerospace
The technology reshaping every corner of the industry
Explore →Professional Associations & Organizations
The networks, scholarships, and communities that accelerate aerospace careers
Explore →Competitions
Build it, fly it, launch it, defend it — then put it on your resume
Explore →Companies Hiring in This Field
1 companies connected to this career pathway.