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Astronaut
Astronauts travel to space to carry out scientific research, conduct experiments and explore. They train for years to operate spacecraft, live in extreme conditions and work in zero gravity. It's a rare career that takes years of hard work in science, maths and physical training to achieve.
No degree needed for many routes
AI impact: low££££ payDirect entry route
3
AI impact
how much AI is reshaping it
Robin · your guide
Curious about being a astronaut? Here's the honest picture - what you'd really do, what you'd earn, and every way in. No need to decide anything yet.
What you'd actually do
As an astronaut, you work in one of the most challenging and extraordinary environments on Earth - space. You train for years to operate spacecraft, conduct scientific experiments, repair equipment in zero gravity, and live in a space station far above Earth. You'll work on research that helps us understand space, develop new medicines, or improve life back on the ground.
The path to becoming an astronaut is long and competitive. You'll need strong qualifications in science, maths, physics or engineering, good health, and the determination to keep going through rigorous training. But if you have the passion for space and science, and you're willing to work hard, you can get there. Many astronauts say the moment they look back at Earth from space makes every bit of the hard work worth it.
1Train in simulators to practise operating spacecraft systems and handling emergencies.
2Take part in physical fitness sessions to stay in top condition for space travel.
3Study spacecraft manuals and learn how every system works in detail.
4Run scientific experiments and record the results carefully.
5Practise spacewalks and repairs using underwater training pools.
6Work with engineers and scientists to plan upcoming missions.
7Learn languages and skills needed to work with international space crews.
Career progression & pay
01
Getting in
Trainee Astronaut
£30,000 - £50,000
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., engineering, physical science, biological science, mathematics)
As a trainee astronaut, you'll undergo rigorous training, including simulations, physical fitness programs, and learning about spacecraft systems. You'll be preparing for the challenges of space missions.
02
Building up
Mission Specialist
£60,000 - £90,000
Master's degree or PhD in a relevant field, additional training and certifications
In this role, you'll be part of a crew on space missions, conducting experiments, and operating spacecraft systems. You'll work closely with scientists and engineers to ensure mission success.
03
At the top
Commander
£100,000+
Extensive experience as an astronaut, leadership training, and proven mission success
At the peak of your career, you'll lead space missions, making critical decisions and ensuring the safety of your crew. You'll be a key figure in advancing human exploration of space.
Degrees that lead here via Engineering and Technology
Acoustics
Skyborne Aviation Training Limited
Advanced Manufacturing and Operations
Coleg Sir Gar
Aero-Mechanical Engineering
University of Strathclyde
Aero-Mechanical Engineering
University of Strathclyde
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
The University of Leeds
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
The University of Leeds
Apprenticeships that lead here
No apprenticeship standard maps directly yet - the university or college route is the main way in.
Who hires - top UK employers
UK Space Agency
The UK Space Agency is responsible for the UK’s civil space program, supporting space exploration and innovation.
European Space Agency (ESA)
ESA is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the exploration of space, offering opportunities for UK astronauts.
Airbus Defence and Space
A leading aerospace company involved in satellite technology and space exploration, providing roles for engineers and astronauts.
AI & the future of this job
Astronauts represent one of the most AI-resilient careers imaginable. The role demands elite physical conditioning, real-time adaptive decision-making in life-or-death environments, and a human presence that is literally the entire point of crewed spaceflight. AI assists with navigation, systems monitoring, and mission planning on the ground, but it does not replace the human body and mind operating in space. If anything, the expansion of space programmes through NASA, ESA, and commercial players like SpaceX and Rocket Lab is increasing demand for trained astronauts rather than shrinking it.
Within 5 Years
AI as mission support
Over the next five years, AI will deepen its role in pre-mission simulation, anomaly detection, and spacecraft systems management, all handled by ground teams and onboard computers. This actually increases the value of astronauts by freeing them from routine monitoring tasks and letting them focus on complex experiments and EVA operations. Selection pipelines at ESA and NASA remain highly competitive, with small cohorts chosen every few years. The path is long but the destination is becoming more reachable as commercial spaceflight expands the total number of seats available.
Within 10 Years
More roles, same demands
By the mid-2030s, Artemis lunar missions and early Mars preparation work will create more astronaut positions than at any point since the Apollo era, spread across government agencies and commercial operators. AI will manage increasingly complex autonomous systems on long-duration missions, but human crew members remain essential for scientific judgement, equipment repair, and the political and scientific legitimacy of crewed exploration. Specialisations in space medicine, geology, and engineering will become more distinct as mission profiles diversify. The field will still be tiny by any measure, but it will be growing.
Within 20 Years
Expanding human presence in space
A twenty-year horizon puts the realistic possibility of Mars transit missions and permanent lunar habitation firmly on the table. These missions require larger, more diverse crews with deep specialist knowledge, and no autonomous system is going to substitute for a human geologist on the Martian surface or a surgeon in a lunar medical bay. AI will be a constant co-pilot managing life support data and communications lag mitigation, but it reinforces rather than replaces the astronaut. The career will evolve significantly in its day-to-day scope, but its core human requirement becomes more pronounced, not less, as missions grow more ambitious.
How to stay ahead
Choose a STEM discipline with dual-use value
ESA and NASA consistently select candidates from aerospace engineering, physics, medicine, and biological sciences. Pick a degree you can build a strong career in independently, because most applicants apply multiple times over many years before selection or never get selected at all. Your discipline should open doors beyond space if needed.
Build operational experience in high-stakes environments
Selection panels prioritise candidates who have demonstrated calm, effective performance under pressure, typically through military service, surgical practice, test piloting, or deep-sea research. Seek out roles after your degree that put you in genuinely demanding operational settings. Academic credentials alone are rarely sufficient.
Pursue postgraduate qualifications strategically
A PhD or professional doctorate significantly strengthens applications, particularly in fields where you can contribute original research during a mission. Space medicine, astrobiology, and materials science are all areas of genuine current interest to space agencies. Frame your research around questions that matter beyond Earth.
Monitor the commercial spaceflight pipeline
Companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and emerging UK players are creating alternative routes into space that do not run through traditional agency selection. Staying close to this sector through internships, networking, and technical roles in the industry puts you in position when new crew opportunities emerge. The path to space is widening, even if it remains narrow.
How to get in - your routes
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