Disclaimer
Copyright Alyssa Carson Year 2018
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this eBook can be transmitted or reproduced in any form including print, electronic, photocopying, scanning, mechanical or recording without prior written permission from the author.
While the author has taken utmost efforts to ensure the accuracy of the written content, all readers are advised to follow information mentioned herein at their own risk. The author cannot be held responsible for any personal or commercial damage caused by misinterpretation of information. All readers are encouraged to seek professional advice when needed.
This e-book has been written for information purposes only. Every effort has been made to make this eBook as complete and accurate as possible. However, there may be mistakes in typography or content. Also, this e-book provides information only up to the publishing date. Therefore, this eBook should be used as a guide - not as the ultimate source.
The purpose of this eBook is to educate. The author and the publisher do not warrant that the information contained in this e-book is fully complete and shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions. The author and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this e-book.
Contents
Authors Note
The one question that I get asked a lot is how to become an astronaut, and it made me realize that it is a popular aspiration among the youth.
All that eagerness and passion to know the answer to this question has led me to write this book.
When so many people came up to me, and told me that they want to become an astronaut, it made me wonder if people really understand the brunt of that decision. Do they truly understand what it means to be an astronaut?
Being an astronaut is not just about flying in space in a spacesuit. It is lot more than that. An astronaut is a certain kind of person who is brave beyond comprehension. They are courageous and strong and they know how to keep their wits about them, in the face of danger.
Whenever astronauts set out for an expedition, they know they are risking their lives. They are never 100% safe, and when they return back to Earth, theyd be willing to do it again. Then, theres trust. When they are out in space, with only a handful of other humans, they learn to trust them with their lives. The astronauts are also risk takers. When they have limited options, and slim chances, they take risks, despite knowing that it can backfire badly and even cost them their lives.
It is an extraordinary profession to be an astronaut, and it requires extraordinary courage to become one.
This is the reason why, wanting to become an astronaut is not as common as mos t other vocations are. When someone wishes to take up this career, its hard for them to know where to start. Additionally, being an astronaut is what comes second. Before that, you must establish a STEM career, and prove your skills in many others. Hence, most of the aspiring astronauts want to know the exact steps theyll need to take to become one.
To be upfront, there are endless things one has to do if they want to stay committed to their goal. Theres no end to it and thats the fun part. You never stop learning when you are trying to be an astronaut.
But lets not go there right now. Before we move on to all the initial steps you need to take, in order to reach your goal, theres something else youll have to do first.
I want you to sit down and have a very meaningful conversation with yourself. And in this conversation, youll need to ask yourself how serious you are. Are you really determined to go to space and face all the dangers that come with it? Or are you just fascinated with space and astronautics, or do you want it as a means of becoming famous?
Perhaps you just want to follow the crowd?
Going to space is not an easy job, it involves dangers and risks and unknown threats. From the moment you leave this planet, you never know what is going to happen. You lose the luxury of predictability.
The point is that youre never entirely safe when you are out there in the space. Hence, if you want to become an astronaut, you must be willing to face all those dangers. You must be willing to put yourself at risk there, and you must be willing to sacrifice a lot of things.
You only get this kind of fearlessness and courage when you have passion, commitment and dedication for the kind of goal youre trying to achieve.
So let me ask you again, do you really want to become an astronaut?
If your answer is a definite and resounding yes then carry on for I have written this book specifically for you.
My best of wishes to all the future space kids!
Introduction
Its strange how some of the biggest things in this world are set in motion by some of the most random occurrences.
I knew in my heart that I was born to do great things in this world, and for this world. But how did it all start?
With a cartoon!
A three-years-old me was watching a show called The Backyardiagans. The episode I saw that fateful day was titled, Mission to Mars
I went running to my dad, all excited, and asked him about Mars and about the people who live there.
I was young, and perhaps my dad wasnt exactly sure how to explain space to me, as no one in my family had any background in it. Yet he did his best to enlighten me. He told my three-year-old self about the big world out there, and he told me about the Moon and Mars.
He told me how people have gone to the Moon. But it would be people from my generation whod grow up and go to Mars.
He thought this was just one of those toddler conversations and would never be revisited.
But he was wrong!
Two weeks later, I very proudly announced my future plans. I still remember my exact words, Daddy, I want to be an astronaut, and be one of the people that go to Mars.
And like the dad of any toddler around the world, he said okay, because he didnt believe it for a second. How could he? I was 3 years old.
For all he knew, my choice of career would change to becoming a princess the next day, or perhaps a cute animal.
He couldnt have been more wrong. The next day passed, and the next week passed and many more weeks and months passed. Years down the road, I still wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up.
My interest never wavered, if anything it only grew stronger and stronger with time. However, the day my dad finally registered the reality of the situation was when he walked into my room and saw me studying a map of Mars.
When he asked me what I was doing, I began to explain to him about how we would go to Mars
I said it like I meant it. I was thinking of everyone, of the human civilization. And my dad noticed it right away.
I told him about all the planning I did using that map, and dad found the explanation very detailed. From getting ready, to landing there, I had thought of everything. And later, he told me that it was that ultimate light bulb moment for him.
That was the moment when he realized that his young daughter was serious, dead serious. And being a father, he took it as his duty to respect my wishes, support me, and even toughen up a bit for a daughter who wants to travel outside the planet for a greater good.
Among many other things, Im grateful to have a father who didnt let his concerns, clip my wings. If anything he helped me to train myself to soar even higher.
