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Exploring

Michael Barratt, a former Explorer, preparing to study microgravity flames on the International Space Station.
Michael Barratt, a former Explorer, preparing to study microgravity flames on the International Space Station.

NASA is more than astronauts, just as a school is more than teachers. NASA employs scientists, engineers, technicians, IT specialists, human resources specialists, accountants, writers, artists, lawyers, and many other kinds of people. Working together, NASA employees strive to break barriers and achieve the seemingly impossible in missions of discovery.

With its career focus, Exploring is a great way to prepare for work at NASA. Given NASA’s missions, the Explorer posts that are likely to best prepare you for a NASA career include:
•    Aviation – where the first A in NASA is for Aeronautics, the science of flight
•    Engineering & Technology – needed to enable NASA’s explorations
•    Health Care – needed for astronaut health and explorations of biological sciences
•    Science – needed to guide and learn from NASA’s explorations
•    Skilled Trades – needed for the fabrication of spaceflight hardware and much more

As another step toward career, consider an internship where NASA has internship programs for high school students, undergraduate, and graduate students.  NASA also has a program for community college students.

Astronaut Alan Shepard with a group of Scouts from Franklin, VA including at least one Explorer, seen in the back right.  The photo was taken at what is now NASA’s Langley Research Center on 19 June 1961, just weeks after Shepard, a former Scout, became the first American to fly in space.
Astronaut Alan Shepard with a group of Scouts from Franklin, VA including at least one Explorer, seen in the back right.  The photo was taken at what is now NASA’s Langley Research Center on 19 June 1961, just weeks after Shepard, a former Scout, became the first American to fly in space.

NASA Links:
•    Aeronautics
•    Careers
•    Engineering
•    Human Health and Performance
•    Internship Programs
•    NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS)
•    Space Biology
•    Science
•    Technology

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