Expert: Paul Soderman - 2/20/2011

Question
QUESTION: hello Mr. SODERMAN ! sir i want to become an astronaut but did not get any idea about how to do this?
i am pursuing b.tech from mechanical engineering from India.i want to ask you that after B.tech what should be the step i look forward so that i can become an astronaut.

ANSWER: I don't know if India has an astronaut program.  For the U.S. program visit the NASA main website (http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html) and follow the links to astronaut requirements. It is hard to define the steps necessary to become an astronaut because it depends on what expertise NASA needs at any given time.  The process is difficult - many apply and few are chosen.  The NASA astronauts are U.S. citizens, but several countries have provided a few astronauts.

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

QUESTION: please Mr.soderman ! give me any idea if you know ,i want to join nasa. i know study is very hard but i do not know how can be???/

Answer
Aseem
All NASA employees are U.S. citizens, but many contractors work at NASA research centers (perhaps 50 percent or more of the population) - some of those contractors are not U.S. citizens.  However, getting such a job is difficult because most NASA contractors want their employees to get security clearances, which is made easier for citizens. If you have an exceptional expertise as a non-citizen you may be able to overcome the obstacles.  Check the NASA websites and search for contractor contacts.  It may be easier to try and become a U.S. citizen, but that is an arduous task that is beyond my experience.  In any case, you need to perfect your English skills which need improvement based on your written questions.
Paul