Spacecraft Test Technicians

Consider joining youth organizations and professional associations that provide membership options for students. For example, the Technology Student Association (TSA) provides students a chance to explore career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; enter academic competitions; and participate in summer exploration programs. TSA administers a competition called The Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science (https://tsaweb.org/programs/teams) that allows high school students to demonstrate their technology skills. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) offers free membership to high school students. Members receive an online subscription to Aerospace America, the organization’s monthly membership magazine, and AIAA Daily Launch, an email news digest. They also receive the opportunity to participate in its Mentor Match program and apply for the $10,000 Roger W. Kahn Scholarship, which they can use to fund their aerospace education. The AIAA offers Careers in Aerospace (https://www.aiaa.org/get-involved/students-educators/Careers-in-Aerospace), a booklet that provides advice on high school and college preparation for aspiring aerospace professionals, profiles of current workers in the field, a list of key skills for success, and other resources. Other resources for K–12 students are available at https://www.aiaa.org/get-involved/k-12-students. Additional career resources are provided by the European Space Education Resource Office at https://www.stem.org.uk/esero/primary/careers-in-space.

Read blogs and newsletters and listen to podcasts about aerospace. The job-search site Space Crew offers a good list of resources at https://spacecrew.com.

Ask your science teacher and school counselor for help setting up an information interview with a space test technician. Better yet, try to see if they can help arrange a job-shadowing opportunity or a tour of an aerospace research or manufacturing facility. NASA (https://www.nasa.gov/stem-content/nasa-visitor-centers) has visitor centers in nearly 10 states. Examples include the Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center in Virginia and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. The main NASA Web site (https://www.nasa.gov) and its career page (https://www.nasa.gov/careers) are also great places for information. Don’t forget to check out aerospace museums such as the National Air and Space Museum (https://airandspace.si.edu) at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Participate in aerospace-, engineering-, mathematical-, and programming-related competitions and summer exploration programs to develop your skills, explore career paths, meet people with the same interests, and have some fun.