Career as astronaut
Space has always been a fascinating concept for almost each one of us. Travelling and exploring it, is like a forbidden fruit that only astronauts get to taste. Astronauts are professionals that travel to space on missions for scientific and research purposes. Currently, ISRO is planning to launch a space mission in December 2021, for which it is recruiting professionals to be ISRO’s astronauts. The path to becoming a successful astronaut is not a straight one; neither is it a smooth one. However, if you are passionate about pursuing a career as an astronaut and are willing to work hard towards learning, training and gaining the required experience, you should go for it because, at the end, its all worth it. So keep moving ahead to achieve what you want because the sky's the limit.
- About astronaut :
- Job Profile |
- How do I get there?
Job Profile
Being an astronaut is not a piece of cake. There
are several aspects to the kind of the job of an astronaut. There
is a lot of psychological and physical skill development that one
will have to go under. Once you are selected to be an astronaut,
you will have to stay away from your family for months. Work
routine on a typical day would include rising early and starting
the day, followed by rigorous training and other technical skill
development training. There is a special emphasis paid on
developing a sense of working as a team among the professionals.
Depending on the kind of job and area of skill, the role of
astronauts may differ from each other. The varying roles as an
astronaut may include Pilot Astronaut, Payload Astronaut, Commander
Astronaut, and Mission Specialist.
In India, ISRO is the agency that recruits astronauts. NASA is another organization that recruits professionals to send on space missions. Astronauts have a pay scale ranging from Rs 40,00,000 to Rs 90,00,000 per annum.
Pros and Cons of Being an Astronaut
Pros:
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If you are fascinated by space and its complexities, this is the right career path for you.
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One will experience and see things that only a few people on earth will get a chance to experience.
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This job will help you develop a more patient approach to life.
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Contribution to advancements in this field will contribute to the progress of your country and science.
Cons:
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One needs to go through rigorous training to succeed in this field.
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There is a risk to life when you are on mission.
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The path to becoming a successful astronaut can be very time-consuming.
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One will have to stay away from family and friends for extended periods.
How do I get there?
The road to becoming an astronaut is a long one.
First, one needs to acquire a bachelor/master degree in any
of the following disciplines:
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Computer Engineering
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Civil Engineering
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Electrical Engineering
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Electronics Engineering
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Mechanical Engineering
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Astrophysics
ISRO conducts exams to recruit students. For the next step, one must prepare for the recruitment examination. The eligibility criteria for appearing in the examinations comprises of being a citizen of India and having a bachelor/master’s degree from a recognized university. Another way of getting into ISRO is through IIST (Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology). One can join IIST and later get recruited by ISRO.
How much does it cost?
The courses that one requires to pursue if they wish to become an astronaut are mostly science and engineering-based. Several private and public colleges provide different bachelor’s degrees in the field of engineering. Studying in a private institute will cost you more than studying in a government institute. The cost for a public institute may range from Rs 200000 to 300000 per annum, and that of a private institute may range from Rs 400000 to 500000 per annum. Pursuing a master’s degree will add to the cost as the master’s courses in public institutes range from Rs 150000 to 200000 per annum, and that of a private institute may range from Rs 400000 to 500000 per annum.
What are the Top Colleges where one should be studying to become an Astronaut?
There are several courses that one might wish to study to become an astronaut. Different colleges, public and private have different fee structures for different subjects. List of some good colleges are listed below:
|
Rank of College |
Name of College, City |
Programme Fees (range) |
|
1 |
IIST, Trivandrum |
Bachelor/Master - Rs 10,000 to 20,000 annually |
|
2 |
IISc, Bangalore |
Bachelor/Master - Rs 15,000 to 30,000 annually |
|
3 |
IIT Bombay, Mumbai |
B.Tech - Rs 2,00,000 to 2,50,000 annually |
|
4 |
IIT Madras, Chennai |
B.Tech - Rs 2,00,000 to 2,50,000 annually |
|
5 |
NIT, Tiruchirappalli |
B.Tech - Rs 1,00,000 to 2,00,000 annually |
|
6 |
IIT Delhi, New Delhi |
B.Tech - Rs 2,00,000 to 2,50,000 annually |
|
7 |
Birla Institute of Technology & Science -Pilani |
B.Tech - Rs 4,00,000 to 4,50,000 annually |
|
8 |
Anna University, Chennai |
B.Tech - Rs 29,000 to 32,000 annually |
Books and other Study Material
Some of the books that can help enhance one’s
knowledge in the field are listed below.
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Astrophysics for Physicists, by Arnab Rai Choudhuri, 2012 Cambridge University Press
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Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools (aka The Dragon Book) by Aho and Ullman
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NPTEL
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Fundamental Astronomy by Karttunen, H., Kröger, P., Oja, H., Poutanen, M., Donner, K.J
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Geotechnical engineering, book by B.M. Das and K. R. Arora
What if this career does not work out for me? What are the other options for a person with these credentials?
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Content on this page is by Career Expert Mrs. Kum Kum Tandon MA (Psychology), M.Ed, Diploma in Educational Psychology, Vocational Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, Delhi) | View Complete Profile |