Comments on: Can I work in astronomy if I graduate in mechanical or computer engineering? http://astronomy-chart.com/can-i-work-in-astronomy-if-i-graduate-in-mechanical-or-computer-engineering-2.html Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:35:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kayla Dunbar http://astronomy-chart.com/can-i-work-in-astronomy-if-i-graduate-in-mechanical-or-computer-engineering-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-505 Kayla Dunbar Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:33:55 +0000 http://astronomy-chart.com/can-i-work-in-astronomy-if-i-graduate-in-mechanical-or-computer-engineering.html#comment-505 Hello, I am a junior at Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. I am currently majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in physics. My university doesnt offer a program for astronomy but I have a true passion for it. I am currently designing my dorm room into nightsky, filled with planets and constellations. I have so many questions and ideas about astronomy and I dont know where to start. My ultimate goal is to design a space vehicle that can travel at significant speeds and to distant places. I am an eager and driven student and I wish I had an opportunity to pursue my passions. What advice can someone give a student like me in this situation? Hello, I am a junior at Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. I am currently majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in physics. My university doesnt offer a program for astronomy but I have a true passion for it. I am currently designing my dorm room into nightsky, filled with planets and constellations. I have so many questions and ideas about astronomy and I dont know where to start. My ultimate goal is to design a space vehicle that can travel at significant speeds and to distant places. I am an eager and driven student and I wish I had an opportunity to pursue my passions. What advice can someone give a student like me in this situation?

]]> By: Eric H http://astronomy-chart.com/can-i-work-in-astronomy-if-i-graduate-in-mechanical-or-computer-engineering-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-156 Eric H Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:10:11 +0000 http://astronomy-chart.com/can-i-work-in-astronomy-if-i-graduate-in-mechanical-or-computer-engineering.html#comment-156 Yes on both counts. My B.S is in computer engineering and I've been in the space industry for over 8 years. There are plenty of mechanical engineers in the space industry as well (same basic education as an aeronautical/aerospace engineer, but not as much focus on fluid dynamics and coordinate reference systems). Yes on both counts. My B.S is in computer engineering and I’ve been in the space industry for over 8 years. There are plenty of mechanical engineers in the space industry as well (same basic education as an aeronautical/aerospace engineer, but not as much focus on fluid dynamics and coordinate reference systems).

]]> By: George N http://astronomy-chart.com/can-i-work-in-astronomy-if-i-graduate-in-mechanical-or-computer-engineering-2.html/comment-page-1#comment-157 George N Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:10:11 +0000 http://astronomy-chart.com/can-i-work-in-astronomy-if-i-graduate-in-mechanical-or-computer-engineering.html#comment-157 Yes, but I think you'll find work in astronomy to be pretty thin, and the pay pretty dismal compared to other jobs. After the costs of the necessary education, few people can afford to be professional astronomers. You have to be willing to live on a shoestring, or find a second job to pay the bills. With the soon decommissioning of the shuttle, a lot of jobs associated with it are going to go away. Hopefully that will be a temporary issue, but in the meantime several thousand workers are going to be displaced, either directly or through loss of sub-contracting jobs. There are jobs in the space industry, but rough times are still ahead. Aerospace has really never come back from its hey-day of the '60s and '70s. Yes, but I think you’ll find work in astronomy to be pretty thin, and the pay pretty dismal compared to other jobs.

After the costs of the necessary education, few people can afford to be professional astronomers. You have to be willing to live on a shoestring, or find a second job to pay the bills.

With the soon decommissioning of the shuttle, a lot of jobs associated with it are going to go away. Hopefully that will be a temporary issue, but in the meantime several thousand workers are going to be displaced, either directly or through loss of sub-contracting jobs.

There are jobs in the space industry, but rough times are still ahead. Aerospace has really never come back from its hey-day of the ’60s and ’70s.

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