You don’t have to bother about knowing how to become an Astronaut In Canada when we have you covered in this article. Even though you have been dreaming about becoming an astronaut from when you were a kid. It is not yet out of place now you have grown. This is because we have made your dream achievable with our step-by-step guide on How to Become an Astronaut In Canada.
Moreover, we have answered many questions you have been asking on How to Become an Astronaut In Canada and we have provided satisfying answers for them. Despite that, we have stated why your pursuit to become an Astronaut in Canada is a worthy attempt.
Therefore, from this article, you will also know that Astronauts are trained pilots and they travel in a spacecraft, work in space, and do activities related to human space exploration. And why most Astronauts undergo extensive training to achieve that career.
In this article
Who is an Astronaut?
An astronaut is a special kind of scientist that takes a spaceship to outer space to study things like asteroids, the earth’s atmosphere, and the moon. An astronaut is a person who is specially trained to travel or fly into outer space.
You can also say that an astronaut is a sailor or a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member aboard a spacecraft.
Although the name is generally reserved for professional space travellers. Sometimes the name can be applied to anyone who travels into space, including scientists, politicians, journalists, and tourists, but here we mean scientists.
Duties of Astronaut
Before these days, the job description of an astronaut was that of being an observer or someone who would view and document what was happening. It didn’t take long for NASA to understand that human interaction would be required.
Therefore, today two types of astronauts are selected for space flights and their responsibilities differ. The two Astronauts are:
- Mission Specialist Astronauts
- Pilot Astronauts
Mission Specialist Astronauts
The Mission Specialist Astronauts work with pilots to conduct experiments, launch satellites and maintain spacecraft and equipment. Their background can be in engineering, science, or medicine. They can also work as astronaut educators, inspiring students to consider joining the Canadian space program.
Pilot Astronauts
Pilot Astronauts serve as space shuttle and international space station pilots and commanders. They are responsible for the crew, the mission, the mission success, and the safety of the flight.
Moreover, an Astronaut is a civil servant and an employee of the federal government. As civil servants, Astronauts have to go to training sessions, write reports, and attend meetings, similar to any other office worker.
Furthermore, when in orbit, an astronaut will spend most of their time in the craft or space station, occasionally having to do a spacewalk to make repairs, or deploy a satellite.
Is Astronaut a Good Career?
For so many reasons, Astronaut is a good career, especially in Canada. For instance, Astronaut Wages and Salaries in Canada are very attractive. How? Astronauts are known to be one of the most highly paid professions in Canada due to the nature of their work and the stringent requirements one must meet before becoming an astronaut serving the country.
For this reason, the salary scale for Levels I to III of Astronauts working in Canada earning varies from $91,300 to $178,400 per year. This is one of the highest in the country across all provinces and territories in Canada.
Best 5 steps of becoming an Astronaut in Canada
These are various steps to follow to become an Astronaut in Canada:
#1. Bachelor degree
The first step is to fulfil the educational requirements for Astronauts in Canada. Those aspiring to pursue a career in Canadian Aeronautics as an Astronaut must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or science, including other branches such as biology, geology, mathematics, computer science, and physics. A doctorate in medicine or dentistry is also acceptable. Still, a bachelor’s degree is enough.
#2. License
Secondly, you need to obtain your licensing and other professional requirements. Aside from the educational requirements, those aspiring to become astronauts in Canada must have at least three years of relevant professional experience.
This is how it works: a master’s degree is equivalent to a year of professional experience, whereas a doctorate equals three years of professional experience. Alternatively, you must be a licensed medical practitioner in Canada.
#3. General and Aeronautics skills
The third step is to acquire skills, Knowledge, and other requirements. Those who want to become astronauts in Canada must be fluent in either English or French. However, being bilingual in French and English is an added advantage over other applicants.
Also, being an astronaut in Canada is open for people residing in Canada and Canadian citizens living overseas. Still, they give more preference to Canadian citizens.
Moreover, Astronauts are also expected to perform a wide array of scientific and technical work, so applicants must provide relevant information regarding their education, experience, relevant certifications, expertise, and knowledge in other languages.
#4. Medical fitness
Furthermore, Astronauts in Canada undergo a list of very stringent medical requirements. They must be in excellent health before being considered candidates.
Specifically, they must be between 149.5 cm and 190.5 cm in height, weigh between 50 and 95 kg, must have 20/20 vision in each eye, with or without correction such as glasses, contact lenses, and surgeries, and they must not be colour blind.
They must have a blood pressure of not higher than 140/90 mmHg when measured sitting, and they must not have any hearing problems.
#5. Training
Once a candidate passes all the requirements, they will undergo a strict training program under the Canadian Space Agency. The basic training includes relevant information about becoming an astronaut in general, such as the history of spaceflight, the International Space Station system, space orientations, and other relevant sciences.
After that, they will join the NASA class of astronauts in Houston, Texas, where they’ll undergo an astronaut candidate training flow for two years. They will be exposed to an astronaut’s essential duties and responsibilities, such as going on spacewalks, learning how to use robotics such as Canadarm, learning more about the space station space systems, including its maintenance and repair, and the much-awaited skill of flying in space.
They will also learn how to wear spacesuits properly, and space simulations are frequently used for training. These simulations are for the situations that might happen in space or on other planets, such as air being cut off from the source, spacecraft engine problems, and so on.
Even though Canada has its space agency, they still go to the US for more intensive and comprehensive training to benefit its astronauts serving in the Canadian space corps.
https://workstudyvisa.com/become-an-optometrist-in-canada/Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What education is required to be an astronaut in Canada?
Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in one of the following fields: engineering; or science, for example, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, mathematics, computer science.
How long does it take to become an astronaut in Canada?
You will go through approximately a two-year astronaut candidate training course. During that two-year training flow, you will be exposed to the primary skill-set of being an astronaut.
Can a Canadian be an astronaut?
Yes because the Canadian Astronaut Corps is a unit of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) that selects, trains, and provides astronauts as crew members for U.S. and Russian space missions. The corps has four active members, able to serve on the International Space Station (ISS).
How much money does a Canadian astronaut make?
The salary scale for Levels I to III varies from $91,300 to $178,400 per year. What type of employment contract are astronauts given? Astronauts are hired on a term basis. The initial appointment serves as an evaluation period, lasting up to two years.
What are the best programs of study to become an astronaut?
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) does not recommend any particular program of study. You should choose a program of study that you love. That way, regardless of which career path you take, you will be doing something that will help you reach your potential. So the CSA generally recruits scientists, engineers, and doctors with extensive knowledge and experience.
Are there any age restrictions on becoming an astronaut?
No. For your reference, the applicants chosen in 2009 by the Canadian Space Agency were 33 and 39 years old when they were selected, and those in 2017 were 29 and 35 years old. The applicants chosen by NASA in 2013 were between the ages of 26 and 46 when they were selected.
Is it necessary to be a Canadian citizen to become a Canadian astronaut?
Applicants must be: Canadian citizens; or
Permanent residents of Canada.
Preference will be given to Canadian citizens.
Do you need any experience as a pilot to become an astronaut?
No. However, piloting experience, be it military or private, is a definite asset for any astronaut candidate.
Is the evaluation process physically demanding?
Yes. Astronaut candidates have to undergo examinations designed to evaluate their ability to become astronauts.
Because of the physical nature of this career, good physical fitness is essential.
In the last astronaut recruitment campaign, how many of the applicants were visible minorities?
A few years ago, the Astronaut recruitment campaign was open to all Canadians who met the education and professional experience requirements. 13.5% of the 3,772 applications received were submitted by applicants who self-identified as visible minorities.
The selection process was designed to be rigorous and meet the highest standards of fairness. The selected candidates are those who best met all requirements for the position.
What kind of training do new astronauts receive?
All astronaut recruits must take a three-phase training program. New astronauts first undergo basic training, which focuses on basic astronaut skills. It covers many subjects, from spaceflight to life science, robotics, Earth Observation, media relations, and handling of photo equipment. Recruits will also be put in challenging situations to help them develop their operational and analytical skills as well as judgment in extreme conditions.
They will learn to fly a plane; practice spacewalking in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, a 12-meter-deep swimming pool; and participate in space mission simulations and survival expeditions.
Upon successful completion of the basic training program, candidates are officially given the title of astronaut and move on to the next phase of their training.
Conclusion
With the above information, we believe you have understood how to become an Astronaut In Canada. Therefore, you can confidently follow the steps we discussed in this article to become an Astronaut in Canada whether you are a citizen or an immigrant.
