Tip - Blog Posts

O que fazer nessa quarentena?

Leia seus livros pendentes ou descubra novos;

Maratone séries, filmes ou documentários;

Estude para provas e vestibulares ou uma matéria que tenha interesse;

Aprenda a cozinhar suas receitas favoritas;

Crie suas próprias playlists para cada momento;

Pratique exercícios físicos na sua própria casa;

Veja vídeos e canais interessantes no Youtube;

Estude mais sobre o COVID-19;

Hidrate seu cabelo, pele e rosto com receitas caseiras;

Reorganize seus horários;

Reforme seu quarto ( não precisa ser uma reforma séria, apenas mude algumas mobílias de lugar ou adicione);

Reorganize sua alimentação com elementos saudáveis;

Baixe apps que possam te ajudar em estudos ou estado mental;

Baixe jogos em seu celular/ computador/ console.

Aprimore suas habilidades de escrita;

  Não se esqueçam de se protegerem e serem higiênicos. ❤

Fun little tip, if you like to dry/press leafs or petals you can put them in the back your phone case. Your phone will heat, and you are put pressure on them when it is in your pocket!

Astronaut Application Tips From A NASA Intern 

Astronauts are unavoidable in your daily work at Johnson Space Center. They are on the phone talking about flight plans as you try to pass on a bicycle, in meetings about future missions as you doodle on a note pad, and in front of you in line at the cafeteria as you wait to get chicken tacos. Us interns have had many opportunities to attend lectures put on by astronauts and attempt to squeeze every tidbit out about becoming an astronaut too. 

Apply Apply Apply

You can't become an ASCAN on a whim, it takes persistence. Yes that's right, pronounced "Ass" "Can", astronaut candidate. Many astronauts applied many times before being selected. Clayton Anderson, small town Nebraskan boy turned NASA engineer, applied 15 times over 15 years before becoming an ASCAN. A Mission Control flight controller in my team illustrated how every application you ever submit is stored in NASA's records. He mentioned Duane Ross, former Head of Astronaut selection, kept applications on a rolodex-esk machine. The first letter of the applicants sir name could be entered and the rolodex machine flipped to their stack of applications like a deck of cards being neatly flipped through. With modern applications being submitted via USAjobs.gov I fear the aesthetic of application sorting machines will not be preserved. Although you should apply many times doesn't mean you should apply before you meet the minimum requirements. Chris Cassidy, Chief of the Astronaut Office and former Navy Seal, remarked it would be wise to wait till you have completed a Bachelors Degree and three years of work experience. Please don't bog down the system with your work as head cheese sprinkler at Pizza Hut. 

Bare Minimums

I mentioned Chris Cassidy's minimum requirements but did not expand on what Bachelor Degrees are accepted. Typically STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) degrees are accepted. Particular programs can cause a grey area. If you are not confident that your degree is accepted email or Tweet at NASA with questions. Once the December 14th application opens a point of contact should be listed to ask questions. Current Head of Astronaut Selection Anne Roemer notes that an important aspect of your degree/ experience is that you can be effectively compared to other candidates. If you can not be sorted into a pile to be compared with other applicants you essentially get tossed out. In addition to experience in industry experience in the armed forces is highly admirable. Approximately 60% of astronauts have military background. Majority of civilians have a doctorate degree. Although your application will be packed with honors and laureates a bland resume format is not effective. It is desirable to express work and project experience in a narrative voice, tell your story. 

Not A Checklist 

When asked "Why were you picked to be an astronaut?" five out of five astronauts I have asked said, "I don't know". Many variables come into play when selecting a candidate that the "kicker" characteristic that gets you in isn't obvious. A sure fire way NOT to get picked is to make your journey to becoming an astronaut a check list. I had the opportunity to spend time with astronaut Mike Fossum at a cook out this summer. He said, "The road to becoming an astronaut is littered with successful careers". Meaning perfectly respectable careers were lost as folks tried in vain to be astronauts. Simply do what you enjoy most. That may naturally lead to a career as an astronaut. 

Applications open December 14th: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/be-an-astronaut-nasa-seeks-explorers-for-future-space-missions

 More application requirement details: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/606877main_FS-2011-11-057-JSC-astro_trng.pdf