What should I go into to work for NASA?

[ScottyB]

I would really like to work for NASA, on the space shuttles, or another company working on jets or space jet thingies. I was wondering what I should go into.

Right now I am a CS Major with a year of CS behind me. I find it kind of bland. I think I still can switch to something else but I would like opinions on what to do.


P.S. I would rather make movies or games, but I hear those are both almost impossible to do well in.

 

[diskop]

If you do not like CS get out of it, it'll make you a lot happier to do what you like. Makes me happy too.

 

[milagro]

Sounds like you'd prefer Aerospace Engineering. You might check out University of Arizona. They have a good department and recently built a brand new facility including a wind tunnel/laboratory..

 

[Hanpan]

Definatly aerospace egineering.

 

[Ameesh]

any of those are fine, you would work on different parts of the space shuttle.

 

[ManSnake]

not on your list, but aerospace engineering would get you hired by nasa.

 

[MrBond]

I have a friend working for NASA as a co-op, she's in Chemical Engineering.

They come to the career fair our engineering department has, if your grades aren't good, don't even bother applying. She has the highest GPA in our class, and AFAIK, she was the only one interviewed.

Her pay SUCKS. As a co-op, I am making ~$15.50/hr at my job, she makes $10-12/hr at NASA. Government agencies don't always pay very well (I interview with the EPA...they paid co-ops minimum wage)

 

[ScottyB]

Originally posted by: MrBond
I have a friend working for NASA as a co-op, she's in Chemical Engineering.

They come to the career fair our engineering department has, if your grades aren't good, don't even bother applying. She has the highest GPA in our class, and AFAIK, she was the only one interviewed.

Her pay SUCKS. As a co-op, I am making ~$15.50/hr at my job, she makes $10-12/hr at NASA. Government agencies don't always pay very well (I interview with the EPA...they paid co-ops minimum wage)

My friend at Michigan Tech co-oped there for CS. He made $15 an hour plus a bunch of benefits.

 

[ScottyB]

Oh, don't worry about the grades either, I am always on the Dean's list. I also plan on getting a Master's degree in whatever I go into.

 

[Cyberian]

What should I go into to work for NASA?

Rocket Science?

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
Oh, don't worry about the grades either, I am always on the Dean's list. I also plan on getting a Master's degree in whatever I go into.

Remember the guy from Armageddon with the double Master's from MIT?

 

[bUnMaNGo]

My friend works for JPL (jet propulsion laboratories) and was EE

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: ScottyB

Originally posted by: MrBond
I have a friend working for NASA as a co-op, she's in Chemical Engineering.

They come to the career fair our engineering department has, if your grades aren't good, don't even bother applying. She has the highest GPA in our class, and AFAIK, she was the only one interviewed.

Her pay SUCKS. As a co-op, I am making ~$15.50/hr at my job, she makes $10-12/hr at NASA. Government agencies don't always pay very well (I interview with the EPA...they paid co-ops minimum wage)

My friend at Michigan Tech co-oped there for CS. He made $15 an hour plus a bunch of benefits.

That could be, she's working at their research center up here in Ohio, not in Florida. I was a little surprised at the pay she's getting though. Maybe it's because she's a first term co-op.

 

[Dark4ng3l]

I hope you realise alot of people might want to work for nasa too.... I mean there will be competition for every job, including janitor and stuff.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

What should I go into to work for NASA?

Rocket Science?

 

[Peetoeng]

Stay with your major. What you need do is to get internship to any of nasa labs like the one in Huntsville, AL for example. Their complexed projects require multi-disciplinary technical resources (all engineering, cs, management, skilled mechanics, even janitors). A friend of mine did his MS doing trajectory calculation for rendevouz mission with an asteroid (a topic that cs/math major would not have problem doing).

If you're going to grad school. Go to one which has research relationship with NASA labs (like U. of AZ mentioned in prev post, U. of AL at Huntsville, or CalTech's JPL, etc.).

 

[Aceshigh]

I have firsthand experience with this, and I can tell you the best thing to study is Electrical Engineering. Aerospace Engineering is good but the versatility of EE makes it the perfect base for becoming a flight controller or astronaut.

 

[AznMaverick]

Originally posted by: Aceshigh
I have firsthand experience with this, and I can tell you the best thing to study is Electrical Engineering. Aerospace Engineering is good but the versatility of EE makes it the perfect base for becoming a flight controller or astronaut.

whoa i always used to think that the astronauts were AE's

 

[broon]

Get into the Air Force. Do four years as an officer and get connected at the same time. When you get out, you should have connections with Satellite companies, NASA, and many other companies. The four years might suck but it will be good experience.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

They need people from loads of different branches. What is most important is that you find something you enjoy doing, cause even if you get a job there you will not be happy if you do not like the work. They need all kinds of engineering, they need chemical specialists, they need behavioral/usability people, they need catering, etc

 

[matsuhisa]

writing matlab is enough for me... i really don't like cs... but the mechanical stuff looks pretty cool at my company. you get a nice computer too!!!

 

Mechanical Engineering - there will soon be a glut of CS graduates and it'll be good to have something different. Plus, it's more hands on!

 

[Vinny N]

If you're looking to be an astronaut you might also want to pick up a 2nd major or a minor in geology.

I think several of the people they send to land somewhere and collect samples have geology skills among their other abilities.

 

[Ditiris]

Not sure if you're still reading this Scotty. I worked at the Johnson Space Center branch of NASA throughout high school and into college. Educational partnerships will definitely get you exposure, which is what I think would be the best thing for you. Seems to me you're not really sure what you want to do. Perhaps you should look into educational partnerships or co-ops at various organizations, perhaps through your skill. That will let you know what you like and what you don't like.

Keep in mind that if you want to work on some iteration of a next-generation space shuttle, you are most likely going to be designing a single part. If you want to design a tail fin, you could either go AE or ME. If you want to design the radar, go EE. The chip for the radar, go EE or CE. Personally I think EE is the best (guess what my major is). Whatever you do, I'd get at least a Master's degree. If you have your heart set on NASA, then I would be prepared to not receive the best pay. A better option is to go with a contractor, like Lockheed, Boeing, etc.

If you want to talk more about this feel free to email me. jtmiller(at)utdallas(dot)edu

 

[sandorski]

You could go to Uni, spends thousands of $$, and take years from your life. Or, you could start working at NASA today as a sanitation worker, groundskeeper, or food preparer/server!! It's your life though, make a choice and stick with it!!