QUESTION:
I am 29 years old and have recently gone back to college.  I am interested
in working on the Mars missions.  What field of study do you think will be
in the most demand in say 4 to 6 years?
 
ANSWER from Steve Wall on May 16, 1997:
You're really asking for a crystal ball here.  The world is changing very
quickly, with comibinations of technical, scientific, human relations, and
political forces at work.

With the onset of more, smaller missions, I think the need will really grow for
people who have the "big picture", because where once that picture was stable,
it is going to now be changing so quickly.  Aerospace system engineers, who also
have a strong background in science and in communications skills, will be the
holders of that picture and will have the wherewithal to embrace it and change
it.  You could pick your specialty (by which I mean you could major in planetary
sciences with strength in systems engineering and communications, etc.), but it
is those three combined expertises that will serve you well in the future
working on Mars or any aerospace venture.