Astronauts

ajayc · 02-13-2007, 11:34 AM

which University has most astronauts in its alumni? Or which university is best know for its aerospace programs?

Seiken · 02-13-2007, 11:58 AM

MIT has the most astronauts
Purdue has the 2nd, but also has graduated crap loads more people

so its skewed per capita.

as for best programs

MIT, Caltech, Stanford, University of Michigan Ann harbor, Georgia tech, Air Force, and Emery something in florida

tokyorevelation9 · 02-13-2007, 12:21 PM

Princeton has the #1 Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Program in the United States according to many sources. Wait for a link to another CC thread.

Seiken · 02-13-2007, 12:38 PM

http://www.erau.edu/pr/

that place

raimius · 02-13-2007, 03:55 PM

U.S. Naval Academy also ranks quite high in number of astronauts.
To become one, I would say USAFA, USNA, ERAU, MIT, or Caltech.

nurseypoo · 02-13-2007, 04:04 PM

USNA puts out quite a few. Univ. of Minnesota has two; Deke Slayton and Duane "Digger" Carey.

Seiken · 02-13-2007, 04:27 PM

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/04class.html

a list of the 2004 astronaut grads. Notice how a degree in aerospace is only among a few of them. Mathematics, physics, and geology are quite common since being in space is more about science than engineering. Engineering gets you there, but all of that engineering is done on the ground. Oh and they all have at least masters degrees.

another pattern, each BS AE holder is from either a military place or from Japan.

hsmomstef · 02-13-2007, 05:03 PM

if you want to go into space, you have to decide how you want to get there. captain of the shuttle or as a scientist? different routes depending on your abilities and interests.

nurseypoo · 02-13-2007, 05:37 PM

Yes, your degree has a lot to say whether you will command/pilot the craft or be a mission specialist. Most all of the commanders/pilots we know/knew have/had advanced degrees in aeronautical engineering.

ajayc · 02-14-2007, 03:18 AM

I am an international so being the commander or the pilot is out of question as they prefer test pilots from the Military Background.

nurseypoo · 02-14-2007, 09:18 AM

Both the Navy and AF have test pilot schools that incorporate slots for foreign test pilots/engineers. On rare occasion, they do take civilians.

hsmomstef · 02-14-2007, 09:26 AM

are you interested in science -- or just want to go into space? They do look for the top, top people -- so is a difficult path to follow if you are not really interested in it.

do some searching of tne NASA shuttle program and look at what degrees the people who are shuttle crew have and where they went to school.

I also don't know what the citizenship requirement is, but I would check that out -- you might have to be a US citizen to be a US astronaut.

hsmomstef · 02-14-2007, 09:30 AM

You don't happen to belong to Civil Air Patrol, do you? I ask because they have a great summer program where you learn all about the space program (I was one of the adults that led the program in Colorado Springs last year). Not only does the program give you tons of information (and you get to see all the cool classified stuff) but it gives you contacts in all the areas of space command. Some of the kids had some definite career goals and it was nice for them to be able to talk with actual shuttle commanders, scientists, test pilots, etc and see how it really worked and what they did to get where they were and what they would have don't differently.

nurseypoo · 02-14-2007, 09:34 AM

They do use international astronauts (French, Israeli, etc).

werner5482 · 02-14-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seiken

another pattern, each BS AE holder is from either a military place or from Japan.

I agree. Looking at another random year (1998), your best bet is to come from a military academy.

ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/1998/98-097a.txt