<p>One of the many things my HS sophomore daughter is interested in, is astronomy. Extremely strong in math and science, she has always expressed a desire to work at NASA in some field or another, be it an engineer, research, or just a myriad of things. Being a HS sophomore, she is still not sure exactly what she will focus on yet.</p>
<p>For those of you that have any idea whatsoever, (or want to venture a guess), what would be the best plan of education? I know it depends on what field you go into, science, engineering, or whatever, so I guess this is just a question that has no definite answer, but anything will help.</p>
<p>Open to all suggestions and thoughts. Thanks!!</p>
<p>for example a friend of Ds isn’t working at NASA—yet
but she recieved degrees in physics and astronomy with a minor in Russian and did undergrad research at Johns hopkins with the Hubble ( she attended UW in Seattle)
She might look at Hopkins for undergrad</p>
<p>NASA is always hiring engineers, mostly aerospace, electrical, and mechanical. If you look at the types of graduate research programs that NASA is supporting, you can get an idea of what their needs are. My dh doesn’t think there are a lot of jobs that actually involved astronomy, though there are sure to be a few. However, there are lots of astronomy buffs working at NASA, and they have a very active astronomy club.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that many people who work in the space program don’t work for NASA. They work for contractors. Here in Houston, there are about 1,500 government NASA employees and about 13,000 more workers employed by USA (United Space Alliance) or one of their subsidiaries. USA also has student programs, so you might want to look them up online.</p>
<p>A young woman I know who was a physics major at Fordham interned at NASA twice while in college and was offered a job on graduation. She decided to go to graduate school instead, where she is now, but hopes to go to NASA when she finishes.</p>
<p>Caltech is physically near and sends plenty of graduates to work at JPL - the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. JPL is team that builds and operates those amazing satellites and robots that explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where…well you get the picture.</p>
<p>a friend from high school attended cornell on a rotc scholarship and got a degree in engineering. air force then paid for her to get a master’s. She did her stint in the AF for a few years and then was hired by NASA. works at the JPL now and has for many years.</p>
<p>timely has the perfect suggestion about doing a co-op program with NASA. You might even find - as I did as a co-op student - that your dream job might not be what you thought, and maybe even the major (as engineering was for me) is not the right fit after all. Better to find out before graduation…</p>
<p>I work for NASA as a Computer Engineer. I have worked either as a contractor or a Civil Service employee supporting NASA since 1984 (I am presently in my 17th year of government service). Honestly - the best way to work for NASA is to move to one of the areas that has a NASA Center and begin working in technical areas - all the ones mentioned in the posts above: Aerospace, any Engineering, math, science, computers, etc. Keep in mind that NASA also employes attorneys, physicians, pilots, secretaries (now called MSAs), accountants, finance majors and others. It takes a lot to keep an organization like this going. Whoever said that more contractors work on NASA projects than government employees is correct. JSC has more than 1500 employees, I believe, because Marshall Space Flight Center (where I work) has around 2500 and I don’t think we are as large as JSC, and we have around 6000 contractors in the area. Getting in as a Co-op or an intern is definitely a great way to get going. One other thing to keep in mind is that you need to chose the Center that has the programs you are most suited to or your degree is suited toward. For instance, if you are a vibration test engineer, engine test, propulsion, etc., you should look at Marshall Space Flight Center here in Alabama. If you want to be an astronaut, do mission support (we have some here, but most is in Houston), also vehicle testing and support - look at Johnson in Houston, while there are NASA employees in Florida - most of them are contractors - they do the physical work on the facilities for launch and prepping the vehicles, etc. Ames (California) and Glenn Research Center (Ohio) are mostly aeronautics, Goddard Space Flight Center and Jet Propulsion Lab (Government-owned, Contractor Operated - no government employees) are heavy on the science and Langley in Virginia has done a lot of manufacturing, wind-tunnel testing, etc., there is also Stennis in Louisiana - engine testing. There is a NASA website - go research the different Centers and see where you best fit, then try to get a job in the area. Good luck to you!<br>
One last thought - if you really want to be an astronaut - go to Auburn University (War EAGLE!). More astronauts are Auburn graduates than any other single school in the country. Mostly because the aeronautics program is so strong there.</p>
<p>Salem,
Timely is right, coop is a good way into NASA. eppsas gave a good summary of NASA site specialties. It is easier if college coop program already has students/connections at NASA. Ask about it during college research/visits. Johnson coops have an amazing website with lots of info and 60+ bios of current coops including how they got into coop program and contact info. Studying the bios you will find several different education plans all leading to NASA. Webpage well worth visit.
<a href=“http://coop.jsc.nasa.gov%5B/url%5D”>http://coop.jsc.nasa.gov</a>
Most NASA sites have coop program but no website bios like Johnson. DD just received coop offer at Marshall starting next fall. One reason she picked college in Huntsville was to be close to Marshall. Worked for her.
eppsas,
Purdue also claims to have most astronauts alumni. Not sure who is correct.</p>
<p>As for who has the most - Purdue or AU - my data could be a little old. It could also change yearly - there is a new astronaut class each year. </p>
<p>Workingforblue - I am going to send you a private email.</p>
<p>As a student who was probably very much like your daughter I would like to offer my advice/opinion/experiences on the matter. I have had a very strong passion for the space program from the time I was in about 5th grade. Not really sure where it came from, but it’s never gone away. I knew that some day I wanted to work for NASA. Throughout middle school and high school I demonstrated strengths in mathematics and the sciences. Throughout high school I began looking at colleges and majors as well as the best way to get a position at NASA. I know there are going to be people out there who disagree with me, but I looked at colleges for 3 years and talked to people who currently work in the field and everything indicated that for your undergrad it really didn’t matter where you went to college, it was the graduate degree that mattered. If you talk to 100 people who currently work at NASA you will probably find out they went to multiple different schools (granted it depends on which NASA site you’re at as to which schools those are and just how much variety there is). The same is true for any of the major aerospace contractors. Sure some of the bigger schools might have a greater percentage, but doesn’t this make sense if they are graduating more students? After speaking with several people and reading a great deal of literature both from NASA and other sources I determined the best way to get a job there was going to be to enter the co-op program. As a result I placed a great deal of consideration on the co-op programs of the schools I was looking at. I have just finished up my first year (although I will technically be a junior at the end of the summer term thanks to AP credit) as a Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering major and possible Russian minor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and last week, I received a phone call informing me that I have been selected for a coop position at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center here in Huntsville beginning this fall. When you do begin looking at colleges I would recommend you look at how well established the relationships are between the schools and the companies in the area your daughter decides she wants to work. </p>
<p>Also, don’t let yourselves be blown away by big names and numbers. Purdue is an excellent engineering school located in my home state and I could have just as easily attended school there. I loved it and to be honest with you up until about April 15, 2005 I was supposed to go to Purdue. What changed my mind? Well, both Purdue and UAH offered me nearly equivalant scholarships and have excellent coop programs. I chose UAH for several reasons. The size of UAh is significantly smaller. As a result I get a significant ammount of one on one attention from my professors and instructors in contrast to just being another freshman engineering student. UAH allowed me to jump right into my MAE courses. Purdue enrolls all freshman engineering students in a freshman engineering program. They do not specify their specific area of engineering until their sophomore year. I was 99.9% sure I wanted to Aerospace and I wanted to be able to get right into my classes. Last semester I took my Intro to Mech/Aero Engr. course, this semester I am taking my Engineering Graphics for Mech Engineers course, this summer I will be taking Statics. UAH is located in Huntsville, Alabama, the home of Research Park and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Research Park is the 2nd (I believe that’s correct) largest research park in the country and every major aerospace contractor in the country has an office located here. When it came to co-op, UAH’s program is excellent(as I mentioned before) and because so many companies within my industry are located here in Huntsville I had a very good chance at getting a job locally. A local job allows me to stay involved on campus and saves the hassle of having to move every 4 months. In fact, I will actually still be living on campus this fall. Those are the biggest reasons I can think of why I chose UAH over Purdue. The housing set-up was a definite advantage as well (I LOVE having my own room!).</p>
<p>If you’re looking for things for your daughter to do over the summer there are several links from the NASA site to various programs, just make sure to take note of application deadlines. Also, I don’t know how interested she is in engineering or where you are from, but I would definitely recommend checking into Operation Catapult at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology between her Junior and Senior year. If I hadn’t been studying in Mexico that summer I would have gone for sure!</p>
<p>I apologize for the length of this post, but I thought hearing from a student who had been in a similar situation might help. I hope it did. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions.</p>
<p>What great information! I have to echo heartcross, though. The Air Force Academy and Naval Academy could be great entrees into NASA. As your daughter begins to fine-tune her interests, she may want to consider these options. Please keep in mind that the admissions process to attend a service academy is very complex and should begin soon after beginning her junior year of high school. They have a very interesting summer program for rising seniors. And good luck!</p>
<p>If your daughter wants to go into astronomy research (which is a far cry from aero/astro engineering, which is what NASA is best at), NASA probably isn’t the place for her. They aren’t heavy on space science and I hear those centers that do have significant research (e.g., Ames) aren’t too great. The path for an astronomy researcher is rather simple: get a strong physics background in college, go to grad school, get a Ph.D., and go into academia. Good luck to her!</p>