TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB als, adaptable, team-oriented, and possess a well-rounded background. It is not enough to only be “book-smart”. One needs to bring a variety of skills to the mission as spaceflight is still “expeditionary” (although that is changing with the commercial spaceflight industry). If one is ‘adventurous’, that trait can hone other skills while in pursuit of those ‘adventures’; skills such as teamwork, selfcare, risk analysis and goal orientation. Did you always wanted to be an astronaut? I grew up with a great interest in space. However, I always wanted to fly airplanes as a kid and started doing so as soon as I was able. I flew my first solo when I was 14. I
Q
It is extremely competitive to even get an interview, let alone be selected as a NASA Astronaut. I was told the year I applied, there were more than 3000 applicants and over 100 interviews. From there, slightly more than 20 were selected to train as Astronaut candidates, and fewer still made it to space. As far as challenging, in truth, some of the things I did in the Navy were more challenging, such as graduating from the US Naval Test Pilot School and landing on an aircraft carrier at night in bad weather. However, to be a professional astronaut requires dedication, study, and much training. Do you think the demand for astronauts is rising with more missions being planned? With the commercial space industry beginning to literally “take off”, the demand for astronauts will increase. No longer will spaceflight be possible for a lucky few. Space will certainly become more accessible in the years to come, and the demand for competent astronauts will rise.
Q
Which section in the aeronautical profession is showing a brighter sign for aspiring professionals in this field? Every section in the aeronautical profession is showing signs of growth especially with the commercialisation of space. As I tell most aspiring professionals, it is most important to find something you enjoy doing and pursue that with passion. For me, that was flying. As it turned out, I went from being a recreational pilot, to a fighter pilot, to a test pilot, to a space shuttle pilot. It was my operational and test flight experience that led me to this field. However, many engineers, scientists, doctors, and other professionals become astronauts. The common thread is that they are all doing something they enjoy.
Q
ended up joining the Navy to pursue an interest in aviation, and it was that which led me to become an astronaut. You had worked in the navy before joining Nasa. How much did that help you later? For me, my Navy experience was critical in becoming an astronaut. I gained valuable experience in complex aircraft operations, mission execution and teamwork. I also trained to be a military Test Pilot, a necessary skill to pilot the space shuttle.
Q
Q 36 education affairs
Astronaut is a fancied profession, but how competitive and challenging it is?
We know you were in the same crew with Sunita Williams, but did you ever interact with Kalpana Chawla? And how are Indians perceived in this sector, as I believe the sector has lots of Indian scientists in America. I did interact with Kalpana. There were, and still are only so many astronauts that eventually, one gets to meet with all. More than being perceived of Indian descent, Suni and KC were and still are perceived as capable crewmates and astronauts. That holds true elsewhere in the industry – people are evaluated for their skills and performance, not from where they originated.
Q