Practical Advice for Aspiring Space Explorers

by Astronaut Stan Love

If you've read past the title, you've probably consumed a lot of books and movies about space. Guess what? Flying in space isn't just for science fiction characters. It's a real job. Real people can apply for it, and real people—like you—can get hired to do it.

Applying to be an astronaut is easy and costs you nothing. Like any other federal government job, the astronaut application is online. Applications are due Feb. 18. It's like a free lottery ticket. What are you waiting for? 

So what's it like if you get hired? It's hands down the coolest job on or off the planet. Training to work in space includes practicing crew tasks in a variety of simulators, flying in high-performance jet aircraft, and putting on spacesuits to work underwater on a life-size mockup of the International Space Station. The cherry on top is actually strapping into a rocket and blasting off to orbit around Earth (or, starting in a few years with Exploration Mission-2, the moon). You'll float peacefully in weightlessness and gaze out the window as our amazing planet rolls by underneath you at 25 times the speed of sound.  Click here to read full article

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