Expert: Paul Soderman - 7/31/2009

Question
QUESTION: hi paul!

follow-up on being an astronaut, are there any prerequisites such as getting a pilot's license, minimum years of exp in aeronautical/aviation field, and/or graduate education?

ANSWER: The world of astronauts is very small.  There is no prerequisite, only a need for perseverance and a skill that would be of value to a country launching space vehicles.  Check the NASA website for more information on astronauts.

I am always surprised by students fascination to be an astronaut.  Personally, I have no desire to fly through space in a little capsule.  And after one or two flights, which is a career in that field, what do you do next ?  But... to each his own.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: "I am always surprised by students fascination to be an astronaut.  Personally, I have no desire to fly through space in a little capsule.  And after one or two flights, which is a career in that field, what do you do next ?  But... to each his own."

- personally speaking, the reason behind my interest in being an astronaut is that [1] (this is superficial) but i would like to experience the sense of flight.. in space. one of my hobbies is 'diving' and it's a different kind of fluid you are "flying" yourself into and, [2] physics as i want to know the concepts behind flight.

another follow-up... what's the percentage of women who are astronauts/aviation/aeronautics? are they given equal footing with the men? i am taking the course with my elder sister and she worries about it.

Answer
I don't know the actual statistics, but the current astronaut class in the U.S. has 3 women and 6 men.  I believe the women are treated equally to the men, but there is probably a larger pool of men who want to be astronauts than women.  Check the NASA website for more data.  You should know that American astronauts must be U.S. citizens.  But other countries have astronauts also.