Becoming an Astronaut

[c9]

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is recruiting two new Canadian astronauts. I applied (along with over 5000 others) and I reached the second stage! (this was not too tricky)

Stage two however is a little bit harder. Especially with a crappy GPA and no orbital mechanics experience. *sigh*

At least I can try to regain some ground with my cover letter. But what can I say that beats a super-Physics PhD who's also a pilot? (no stealing, primary_suspect!)

Comments

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Go read "A Stranger From a Strange Land" and then tell them you're fluent in Martian.

(ok, not helpful)

Can you post a job description so we can see? It may help me think of helpful ideas.

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Ok, I just realised you have links here. I'll get back to you with ideas.

[benjidacruick.livejournal.com]

I was going to apply to that! haha!

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

Don't we have reality tv for this sort of thing now?

[c9.livejournal.com]

How do you Launch a Problem Like Maria?

The Astronomical Race?

[primary-suspect.livejournal.com]

Launch, I love it!

[primary-suspect.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, my cover letter has already been submitted so you are safe. My undergrad GPA is pretty crappy compared to my grad marks and they only look at your undergrad marks. Sadly I have no orbital mechanics experience either.

Good luck, hopefully we make it to phase 3.

[primary-suspect.livejournal.com]

All employers are looking for good communications, leadership, and teamwork skills. You can highlight that in your cover letter by talking about your management work, your teaching as well. They are big on languages and ability to communicate with international players so you can talk about the cultural and varied language backgrounds of the people you have had to teach in your courses and manage and your ability to communicate and teach them, etc...

From your help desk days and other experience you can talk about your problem solving skills as well. I don't think they expect people to already have the orbital mechanics experience but want to make sure the people will be able to and are interesting in learning.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Thanks, btw. Very helpful!

[sarah-sosiak.livejournal.com]

Argh. I don't even make it past the first stage. Alas, I suppose if not having 20/20 vision prevented me from being a military pilot (don't laugh...it was a serious goal for a while there) it makes sense that it would keep me from being an astronaut.

Back to Web 2.0 for me.