Should I enroll in Army ROTC OR Air Force ROTC? is one looked upon better by NASA than the other? also, if i apply to NASA's astronaut program as a pilot for example, and they dont accept me for a pilot, but they think they could use me, would they hire me and put me at that job? or is it whatever you apply for you either get it or you dont?
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Here's what your "typical" astronaut may look like.
My gut is that the odds are better for Air Force or Navy than Army, but the application process is more competitive for Air Force and Navy since many approach careers in those branches just as you are. The Navy has reduced the number of candidates it accepts in recent years, but you should look up the numbers so it may be even more competitive. That could, of course, reverse in the future.
My other gut instinct is to say go for the branch you love and do your absolute best, but also pick a school with a tradition of graduating successful astronaut candidates -- Purdue, Stanford, MIT, RPI, JHU, USAF Academy
My gut is that the odds are better for Air Force or Navy than Army, but the application process is more competitive for Air Force and Navy since many approach careers in those branches just as you are. The Navy has reduced the number of candidates it accepts in recent years, but you should look up the numbers so it may be even more competitive. That could, of course, reverse in the future.
My other gut instinct is to say go for the branch you love and do your absolute best, but also pick a school with a tradition of graduating successful astronaut candidates -- Purdue, Stanford, MIT, RPI, JHU, USAF Academy
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If you want to be the pilot of the shuttle, join the Air Force. If you want to be a mission specialist, get a bachelors (masters and PhD help a lot) in a science, math, or engineering field. If you want to be considered for both, do both. And since NASA has ended the shuttle program, it might be a good idea to move to India or China. NASA isn't going to need any new astronauts for a long time.
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ALL Space Shuttle Commanders are ex military PILOTS. Army doesn't give you much chance to learn to fly!
of course, NASA isn't going to have much need for astronauts anymore, given that the Space Shuttle program has only two more flights left, and then Russia take over with unmanned, robotic carriers for most supply missions.
What might be better to take is Business Administration, and after you graduate go out an buy 3 or 4 McDonald's franchises.
of course, NASA isn't going to have much need for astronauts anymore, given that the Space Shuttle program has only two more flights left, and then Russia take over with unmanned, robotic carriers for most supply missions.
What might be better to take is Business Administration, and after you graduate go out an buy 3 or 4 McDonald's franchises.
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Air Force or Navy ROTC is fine. The Navy used to have better pilots, but that may no longer be true, and Navy ROTC may not be available at the university you choose.
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Alliteratively, you ask at the source -
http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/defa…
http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/defa…