Space Exploration

Many professions contribute to space travel efforts and space exploration draws on a wide variety of technologies. Aerospace careers include engineers, scientists, technicians, computer programmers, pilots, mechanics, graphic artists, and administrators. Careers specific to space exploration include those in the sciences such as physics, biology, and chemistry. Specialized engineering jobs in this industry include: applications engineers, chemical engineers, control dynamics engineers materials engineers, and navigation systems engineers. Engineers are assisted by astronautical and aerospace technicians.

Astronauts, while among the most high-profile professionals in space exploration as the pilots and crew of spacecraft, are employed in fewer numbers. From 1959 to 2020, NASA has selected only 350 astronauts to fly on its space missions. Other professions in space exploration and the aerospace industry are astronomers and astrophysicists. Both astronomers and astrophysicists may apply their findings to aerospace manufacturing and space research and flight.

NASA is the major employer of space exploration professionals in the United States, but it often contracts with a company or companies to build spacecraft to their specifications. A manufacturer also may develop a technology on its own and then try to sell NASA on its usefulness. Space exploration technology is just one sector of the aerospace industry, which also covers the larger industry of commercial aircraft production. Although there are only 50 or so major aerospace manufacturers, thousands of subcontractors, from very large to very small companies, provide parts, supplies, materials, and sub-assemblies to the principal contractors. Manufacturers generally compete for contracts for military, commercial, and space aircraft.

Potential setbacks for space exploration, as well as a possible hindrance on the future growth of career opportunities in this industry came with the announcement in 2010 that funding for the human spaceflight program scheduled to succeed the space shuttle would be discontinued. This was followed in 2011 with the end of the space shuttle program. NASA's budget also has been cut more frequently than it has been maintained or increased, and the agency underwent a restructuring and streamlining program that included a goal of reducing its civil-servant staff. Currently, the space industry, like many other industries, is faced with the challenges of the economic slowdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many space companies are relying on government contracts for funding. Most recently, the U.S. government proposed to increase NASA's budget to more than $25 billion for the 2021 budget, in an effort to support U.S. space exploration. This signaled a renewed commitment that includes targets such as a manned mission to Mars and a new reusable space transportation system.