Being an astronaut is an exciting job! The cool things they get to do are really out of this world. When the Shuttle flies, the astronauts get a lot of attention.
Although the astronauts are in the spotlight, many other people work hard to make a launch possible. NASA has a huge team, with many talented people working together. You may know about some of them—the people in Mission Control that help the astronauts during their flight, the engineers who figure out ways to make the Shuttle safer, and the scientists who discover more about how things work in space.
Still, the NASA team has many other members: the people who teach the crew other languages to help them work with crew members from other countries, and the doctors, who make sure the crew is healthy. NASA even has teachers on its team. They get students excited about space, and one day those students might work for NASA. They will be the next astronauts, doctors, engineers, and scientists—the people NASA calls the next-generation explorers!
More resources from NASA:
The People Behind the Astronauts
From Mission Control to structural engineers, there are a lot of
people who work hard to make the astronauts' jobs easier.
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When I Grow Up
Are you looking for a career that requires continuing education, long
hours and lots of study time? If the job title said "astronaut,"
you might be surprised at how many people would love the opportunity.
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All About Astronauts
Few astronauts start out as astronauts. They come from a wide variety
of careers, including the military, sciences, engineering and education.
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My Goals
Develop long-term goals, short-term goals, and activities to achieve
them.
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View Student Section
NASA Careers
Identify one NASA worker with whom students share common interests
and abilities and draw conclusions as to the necessary skills and
education required for such a position.
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View Teacher Section |
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