Space Universities

[joema]

simonbp - 14/3/2006  11:15 PM
As an undergraduate with a year left before (hopefully) going to grad school, I've been looking around at various universities with space orientated curricula/research,

Here is one close to you: http://www.utsi.edu/

STS-4 pilot Hank Hartsfield graduated from there.

[Shuttle Scapegoat]

Breaking it down for the younger readers here, like myself. What are the best baseline subjects to gain good grades in, if you wish to aim later at a Univesity or college that will take you a step closer to the working in the space industry?

[Bruce H]

Shuttle Scapegoat - 16/3/2006  9:19 PM

Breaking it down for the younger readers here, like myself. What are the best baseline subjects to gain good grades in, if you wish to aim later at a Univesity or college that will take you a step closer to the working in the space industry?

Go for good grades in your science subjects. Always a welcome start.

[Propforce]

vt_hokie - 16/3/2006  4:49 PM
 But then, I was such a dork that I was just as likely to be playing Microsoft Flight Simulator as I was socializing in my little bit of free time!   I did a fair amount of cycling, too, though.  Blacksburg is a paradise for mountain biking!  

Not me!!  I would hike 45 minutes across campus, in 6 feet of snow with 5 layer of clothing in a 40 degree BELOW ZERO, just to get to Liberal Art side of library "studying" for a better "scenary".   During the winter time, when everyone is wrapped up like the Michelin tireman, I'd take the in-door Co-ed swimming class for a bit of warm and eye candy.  But unlike Ed; I did not meet my wife in the PE class.  

Needless to say, if you can get into elite graduate schools such as MIT, CalTech, Standford, Princeton, Columbia, UC-Berkeley, Harvard, etc., you'll have a lot more options when you get out.  

It's funny that you mention Columbia.  You usually don't hear about it being a big engineering school, but I guess just being in the Ivy League gives it that elite status by default! (For most other fields, Columbia certainly is among the elite.)

You forgot to comment about Harvard engineering school.  Has anyone ever even heard of it? [snicker snicker]  But it impresses lots of people if you graduate from Harvard.

BTW, Columbia graduate school in science is actually pretty good, such as physics and chemistry.  

 I actually got accepted there and started working on a masters degree in Mech Eng part time through their "video network", but it got to be too much for me on top of work, especially after getting laid off and having to move and start a new job.  So, I never finished.  I kind of regret that now, and I hope that being a Columbia dropout doesn't hurt me when I start applying to grad schools again!  

Well for Christ sake do not put that on your resume !!  

[vt_hokie]

Propforce - 16/3/2006  11:35 PM
Well for Christ sake do not put that on your resume !!  

LOL!  Probably good advice!    But it's not like I flunked out.  I just never finished.  It's well past time to get my butt in gear and start learning and building the 'ol resume again!  It's just so easy to get stuck in a rut...

[Dana]

Shuttle Scapegoat - 16/3/2006  7:19 PM

Breaking it down for the younger readers here, like myself. What are the best baseline subjects to gain good grades in, if you wish to aim later at a Univesity or college that will take you a step closer to the working in the space industry?

Depends on what you want to do in the space industry. Generally, math (yeesh, that lets me out right from the git-go), physics, chemistry for a start. Mostly you will probably want to get into either the physics or engineering advanced degree programs after that. Look for electronic/computer engineering, aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, etc., or even medicine. There are also astronautics programs at some schools. If you actually want to FLY IN SPACE, while a military background isn't essential it is preferred. All of the above, plus flying lessons, which I reccommend to everybody no matter WHAT field they go into.  

[simonbp]

joema - 16/3/2006  8:25 PM
Here is one close to you: http://www.utsi.edu/

STS-4 pilot Hank Hartsfield graduated from there.

Even close than you think; I used to live ~10 minutes from there...

IIRC, UTSI has had about 6 astronaut gradutes, all ex-military, mostly AF, as it's right next to Hap Arnold AFB. There hasn't been a whole lot of reseach there recently, and there was talk of possibly closing it down, so I'll probably look elsewhere...

Simon

[James Lowe1]

This might come in useful, plus this site gets a few bucks if you click the banner and enter details to search for a related college. In fact, it's free, so do that anyway, and help the site

[Orbiter Obvious]

Thanks, that's useful. Especially the engineering part.

[spacetiger]

Auburn's AE program is outstanding and has put out a number of astornauts, most notible Ken Mattingly and Jim Voss.

[Rob in KC]

What was John Young's college history?

[Bruhn]

spacetiger - 22/3/2006  10:17 AM

Auburn's AE program is outstanding and has put out a number of astornauts, most notible Ken Mattingly and Jim Voss.

I believe Jim Voss is even teaching a course at Auburn now.  At least he was a few years ago.  I wish he would of been there when I was there.

Another option would be to get a job and let your employer pay for your school.  I got a M.S. in Systems Engineering from University of Missouri - Rolla (UMR) and never stepped foot on the campus once.  Online graduate programs make it easy to work and get a degree at the same time (or at least bearable).

By the way, systems engineering (SE) is alot like an MBA only more technical.  In Huntsville, you can write your ticket with a SE degree.  Plus its a helluva lot easier than advanced physics.  Most importantly, do what you love.  As the saying goes, "If you love your job, you never have to work a day in your life".

[Dana]

Rob in KC - 22/3/2006  3:38 PM

What was John Young's college history?

Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering with highest honors from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1952. Then he joined the Navy, served on a destroyer, and entered flight training. He flew with VF-103 flying F9F Panthers and then F8U Crusaders, and then went into training at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River in 1959. He flew flight test for the Navy at "Pax River" for about 3 years, and was serving as a Maintenance Officer for VF-143 when he threw his hat in NASA's ring for the second round of astronaut selections.

[spacetiger]

Bruhn - 22/3/2006  7:43 PM


I believe Jim Voss is even teaching a course at Auburn now.  At least he was a few years ago.  I wish he would of been there when I was there.

He was teaching a Space Mission class within the AE department, along with serving as the engineering departments dean of external affairs (or something like that). As I have heard in the rumor mill, the university wanted him to do more fundraising and he wanted to do more teaching, so I think he left. Last I heard, he was teaching at Colorado State??

I never had a class with him but he would often drop in our classes on Friday's during football season.

+1 on SE degree here in HSV. I have an AE but do more SE/PM now.

[vt_hokie]

Mexico: Pumping Out Engineers

I have grave doubts about the future of engineering as a profession in this country.  But then, I have concerns over the future of the middle class as a whole.  Not everybody can go to Harvard for an MBA and then become a CEO.  What professions will maintain the purchasing power of the middle class necessary to support our economy when everything gets "outsourced"?

[Mercury]

Well, I live in Italy and now I am attending the 4th year of the high school, so next year I will surely go to the university.
I would like to choose the Aerospace field. Here one of the best universities that offer this course is Padua's one.
I heard (but I don't know if it's true) that this degree is very in demand (I hope I wrote it right), not only in the Aerospace field, but especially in all the fields that concern the Aerodynamic subject.
With this degree, for example, I heard you can project cars, bicycles, motorbikes, etc... you can find a lot of different jobs So do you think it is true?

[strkiky]

Mexico: Pumping Out Engineers

I have grave doubts about the future of engineering as a profession in this country.  But then, I have concerns over the future of the middle class as a whole.  Not everybody can go to Harvard for an MBA and then become a CEO.  What professions will maintain the purchasing power of the middle class necessary to support our economy when everything gets "outsourced"?

Wow, I'm impressed or maybe shouldn't be?
People seem to have known about the economic hollowing of the middle class back in 2006.

This thread has been given me a useful insight in making sure that that I don't put myself into a vulnerable spot with regards to employment.

[Ansha]

In Ukraine there are space specialities and my uncle is a pilot, I was in cabin of an airplane with him. As far as I understood from your answers, only America or GB are centres of Space Universities. Can woman be present there? My son really wants to study for the space shuttle engineer, where to start learning the topic? Sorry, I am not aware of the topic, I even googled what was the first satellite in the space, but I find the topic extremely interesting.