Astronautics or Aeronautics engineering

[Liquid_Demon]

I'm seeking to be a Naval Aviator, but I'd like to think that down the road I might be selected for going up into space. However, my first and foremost goal is to be a Naval Aviator.

Would majoring in Astronautics Engineering as opposed to Aeronautics Engineering hurt my chance to become a fighter pilot at all? Or ill it perhaps do the opposite and increase my chances since I would be a viable candidate to choose among pilots to go into space? If you are a Naval Aviator yourself, have you found your education in Aeronautic engineering to be especially helpful?

 

[kmac]

I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that a BS in anything won't really matter as far as getting into space. You'll need much more education to become either a Mission Specialtist (MS) or much more tactical time to qualify as a Pilot/CDR. What you do as an undergraduate won't really matter... to the degree that you mean.

Any technical major will get you in the right mindset to be able to do well in flight school. However, it's no guarantee. And remember that there are a LOT of non-technical majors that do quite well in both flight school and in their careers.

 

[HalfBreed]

If your goal is to set yourself up to possibly apply for the space program a technical degree is the way to go. If you look at NASA's page they tell you to major in engineering, math, or sciences. If you want to be a mission specialist, either would work. If you want to be a pilot, Aero might be better only because it would set you up well to become a test pilot (which in turn looks good if you want to be an astronaut).

As for being a navy pilot . . . just graduate from college. I know guys who have majored in Reproductive Physiology and Geography. Plenty of people who have advanced degrees in Aero or Astro have failed out of flight school.

 

[Goober]

Back off my geography degree...I can read a road map like no one you know.

 

[HighDimension]

Back off my geography degree...I can read a road map like no one you know.

Heck, you should be able to MAKE a road map after four-years of geography.

 

[HalfBreed]

Did I say anything bad about it? No. I believe these were examples of people who are still in the flight program. Hell if I had the option of picking geography . . .

As for the original question:
http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/content/broch00.htm#nar

 

[Goober]

Note the wings, junior. That was my point. Not everything's serious.

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

Isn't a technical degree a pre-req to be a test pilot? And isn't that a stepping stone to NASA?
Between aero- and astro- nautics, a double major should do just fine.

 

[PU Grad]

I don't know about you, but for my school the difference between an astro degree and an aero degree was 3 classes. And it could even be less by taking the other ones as part of your electives. The only definative difference was the senior design class.

i.e. You could take the aero core requirements and all astro engineering electives.

 

[Goober]

Isn't a technical degree a pre-req to be a test pilot? And isn't that a stepping stone to NASA?
Between aero- and astro- nautics, a double major should do just fine.

Not sure the technical degree itself is a requirement (at least not for postgraduate school), but there is a part of your record that basically has an academic code showing your college course background in math and science. There's a minimum that's required in order to apply. Wouldn't preclude a fine arts or interpretive dance major from applying provided they had the calc/diff eq/physics etc. minimums as part of their record. Regardless, your chances are significantly better if you've got the rest of the major courses to put it all in context (whether for PG school or TPS).

 

[Cactijosh]

If you want to fly, go poly sci...

and you might want to go on www.spacewarriors.com to get your astronaut questions answered.

 

[HighDimension]

If you want to fly, go poly sci...

and you might want to go on www.spacewarriors.com to get your astronaut questions answered.

I knew better than to click on that, yet I still clicked it.

 

[zero]

Thoroughly read all the Bios on this page.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/

You'll notice some trends and that should lead you in the right direction. If you're intereseted in Naval Test Pilot School, as a stepping stone check out BUPERSINST 1500.62A. Good luck!

 

[smittyrunr]

My degree is in Aerospace Engineering- from one of the many places that do not offer separate Aero and Astro degrees. While my concentration was astro, the degree for everyone still reads Aerospace Engineering.
In other words it doesn't matter and it has not particularly helped me to this point. (through flight school and 1/3 the way through a fleet squadron) (hasn't hurt either) They will teach you what aero you need to know in API.
Study what you are interested in.