QUESTION:
Do you think that joining the military reserves (Air Force) would be
beneficial
for future plans of working for NASA?

ANSWER from Andrew Petro on October 26, 1998:
I'm glad to hear that you are interested in a career in the space
program.  There are a lot of ways to answer your question.  First I'd
say that the most important thing would be to get a college education in
an engineering or science field.  You might want to consider a college
that has a cooperative education (co-op) program with NASA or aerospace
companies.  In that program you alternate semesters at college with
semesters spent working - so you gain experience and also get paid and
it greatly increases your chances of getting hired at the place you
worked as a coop when you graduate.  I was not in a coop program but I
know many who were and they really liked it.  We have many coop students
here at the Johnson Space Center.  

Military experience is also good - but be sure that you really want to
be in the Air Force.  If you want to be a pilot-type astronaut, you will
probably need to get the type of high-performance flying experience that
you only get in the Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps.  But, joining the
military is just the first step.  Getting to be a military pilot is an
extremely selective process - only a small fraction of those who apply
make it.  But if that is what you want and you qualify - go for it.
There are also scientists and engineers who are astronauts and the
military flying expereince is not necessary for them - their education
and work experience in engineering or science is what matters.  Most
people who apply to be astronauts are in their thirties when they get
selected.  So it is a job for people who have already gained experience
in the space program or other field.

In the future, the number of people who fly in space will increase and
they will come from increasingly wider backgrounds.  There will be space
vehicles operated by private companies and the people who travel in them
may not be government employees at all.  And, I wouldn't be too negative
about being involved in the space program in other ways.  You said that
you wanted to be a person who goes into space, not one who watches
others.  Please keep in mind that trips to space would not be possible
at all if it were not for the work of thousands of people who have to
stay on the ground.  I always wanted to be an astronaut but I have not
had my chance yet.  But I enjoy my work and I think it very important.
When I see the Shuttle take off, I know that I had a part in making that
possible and that is a wonderful feeling.  I now work on an experimental
rocket project that may one day make it possible for people to travel to
other planets - and that makes me feel great about what I do.

Good Luck!
Andrew Petro
Johnson Space Center