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Fact ����� National and Administration ������� �������� ������ Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199 FS-2001-09-68-LaRC ������� �� ��������� ���������� A new century has begun. As a student What Education Will You How Do You Know if You Want you will be spending your life in the Need Beyond High School? An Aerospace Career? 21st century and the future may offer many unpredictable opportunities. A career in aerospace as a If you think you would be interested or engineer requires four to seven in a career in aerospace , It will be a time of space stations and years of college study following high check your potential for success by robotic probes. Manned missions to school. A bachelor’s degree requiring answering these questions: other planets and moon outposts are four years of study is the minimum future possibilities. All this, and more necessary to enter this field. Colleges • Do you enjoy math and ? scientific accomplishments that have and universities also offer graduate not even been dreamed of, will happen programs where students can obtain • Do you have an inquisitive and because Americans wants to live and master’s and doctoral degrees. The searching mind? work in space. master’s program usually takes two years. An additional two to four years • Are you interested in knowing what Where Will You Be in 10 Years? is needed to earn a . makes things work?

The world will continue to need aero- A starting position as an engineer, • Do you like to solve problems and space , engineers, technolo- , physical scientist, or puzzles? gists and technicians to be ready for life scientist requires a bachelor’s de- the 21st century. gree. (A master’s and/doctoral degree • Do you like to create things? is highly desirable in life .) What Could An Aerospace Tech- Some examples of degrees • Do you enjoy learning? nology Career Mean for You? required are electrical/electronics, aerospace, and mechanical. Other • Do you enjoy working with Aerospace workers are professionals types of bachelor’s degrees that may ? who work independently or as part of a lead to aerospace careers are: phys- team. They conduct , and de- ics, chemistry, geology, meteorology, • Do you like to build things? sign and develop vehicles and systems , experimental psychology for atmospheric and space environ- and biology. • Are you prepared to study hard and ments. Individuals who are successful do homework? in aerospace careers have the proper Engineering technicians typically educational background, possess good earn a two-year Associate of Science • Do you achieve good grades? communications skills, and are com- degree. Some may continue for two ad- mitted to being part of a team.A wide ditional years and obtain a bachelor’s If you answered yes to most of the variety of aerospace career fields offers degree in engineering technology. questions, you may want to consider an opportunities for high job satisfaction Others may earn a bachelor’s degree aerospace career. Some of the recom- and excellent compensation. in engineering or one of the physical mended high school courses are listed sciences. A few complete a five-year on the reverse side. apprenticeship program offered at some NASA field centers. What Should You Do To Prepare Chemist Technical Communicators For An Aerospace Career Now? Geologist Artist Meteorologist Audiovisual Specialist Education is a critical requirement. Oceanographer Editor What are your favorite subjects? Physicist Education Specialist Mathematics and science are the Photographer for as aerospace technology career. Life Scientists Public Relations Decisions you make in school can Biologist Writer affect your career possibilities. Some Medical Doctor of the recommended high school Nutritionist Other Fields courses are listed below. Physiologist Quality Control Inspector Algebra Psychologist Ground Radio Operator Biology Teletypist Calculus Social Scientists Chemistry Economist What Are Engineers? Mathematics Sociologist English Engineers are people who make things Geometry work. The work and ideas of engi- Math Analysis Computer Scientist neers make achievements possible. Mathematician They put power and materials to work. Trigonometry Statistician Engineers have moved America into Systems Analyst skyscrapers, high speed cars, jets, and How Can You Find Out More space vehicles. They make life inter- About Aerospace Jobs? Engineers esting, comfortable, and fun. Comput- Aerospace/ ers, television, and –products Contact people working in the aero- Biomedical of the communication industry– space field such as scientists, engi- Chemical depend on engineers. Engineers will neers and technicians. Your teacher or Civil stations for the 21st century. guidance counselor should be able to Computer arrange this for you or your class. Visit Electrical What Are Technicians? your school and public libraries to get Environmental names of professional organizations Industrial Technicians are an important part of you can contact for more information. Materials the aerospace team. They work closely Contact the NASA personnel office Mechanical with scientists and engineers in sup- closest to you if you would like addi- Nuclear port of their research. Their skills are tional information. Visit the following Petroleum used to operate wind tunnels, work in web sites for more information. Plastics laboratories, construct test equipment, http://www.nasa.gov/ Safety build models and support many types http://www.aero-space.nasa.gov/ Systems of research. http://www.spaceresearch.nasa.gov/ http://www.earth.nasa.gov/ Technicians What Are Scientists? http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/ Aerospace Model http://www.spacescience.nasa.gov/ Scientists are knowledge seekers, al- Avionics ways searching out why things happen. Some Kinds of Aerospace Electrical/Electronics They are inquisitive. This means they Careers Engineering are always questioning. They possess Fabrication a sense of wonder. Nature, Earth, and Pilots or Crew Members of a Materials all the universe are what fascinate the Pattern Maker and Molder scientist. The scientist questions, seek Pilot Astronaut answers, and expands knowledge. Mission Specialist Engineers Designers Payload Specialist Architectural Electrical Physical Scientists Mechanical Astronomer