How do I become a part of the space industry?
Hi. I am a computer engineer from India. I have always wanted to make a career in astronomy/space. I am aware there are basically two paths: The phd path through which I become an astronomer but working in academia doesn't attract me so much, I am also aware that there aren't many positions that open up in academia. The other is the engineering path. Here I am confused whether to continue in computer engineering and hope to work in the space industry (I have heard data science is heavily used in astronomy. maybe I can do masters in that) or to do masters in aerospace engineering (what will be the job prospects of it?). Are there any other paths? I am not very keen on doing a MBA since I am an introvert. How is the International Space University?
#space #rockets #astronomy #astrophysics #astronomers #technology #datascience #isu
4 answers
Ken’s Answer
Congratulations on wanting to be part of the space industry. There are many opportunities for a wide variety of career areas. The most important thing for you to do is to find an application of your background and education that fits with your personality and matches with the personality traits of others in that career area.
Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many .
Ken recommends the following next steps:
karthik’s Answer
karthik’s Answer
Find a field that you love. ...
Be prepared to study. ...
Become a space buff. ...
Get informed and get involved! ...
Volunteer. ...
Choose a work-study program.
Narayan’s Answer
Dear Nikita,
Glad to hear that you want to contribute to the space industry. When I started out, I had a keen interest in Aerospace Engineering. But given the limited exposure and scope it had in India at that time, I decided against it. However, things are changing for the good now!
As you are currently pursuing Computer Engineering, I would suggest that apart from your course you should build extensive knowledge on Pure Science subjects, mainly, Physics (especially Astro Physics) and Mathematics. In my opinion, pursuing a PhD would be the best way to reach there, though you will have to select your PhD specialization with a lot of care and keeping in mind your strengths. This will also open options for you to become a scientist and believe me, the space industry has a lot of them. An alternate option would be to pursue your Masters in case you feel PhD is too exhaustive. At the end of the day, your engineering background and sound knowledge will certainly help you get where you want - to the space and back :)
All the Best!
Best Regards,
Narayan
Narayan recommends the following next steps: