Immediate Astronaut vol.4: Mr. William Pailes
While in Japan the space agency announced all of sudden that they hired 3rd astronaut additionally from last year's selection, here in UT-Arlington a talk event of a former astronaut in '80s Mr. William Pailes was held by the school branch of AIAA without enough notice in advance. I did not fully get the drift of the event, but I assume it was for giving motivations for freshman students. Talk included { how space flight goes, space shuttle system, International Space Station and Orion space ship } which all the "sophomore" level space lovers are familiar with, and at the end he concluded showing examples of how engineering is contributing greatly to the society.
Since he earned master degree in Computer Science at Texas A&M University, I asked him a question that I've been wondering for years that the advantage of having background in computer based areas for working as an astronaut. The answer was "not at all", he never felt that. He added that you should not be a superman but keep good grades, must be outstanding among thousand of applicants and be a good team-player. Those were general answers but he talked gently and eagerly. However, why I didn't get the answer I really wanted might be because of my English. Generally, an astronaut is used to being asked which university degree is the most competitive, and I'm afraid he might have taken my question in the same way. So I need to ask some other astronauts some day, maybe Mr. Swanson who also has a degree in CS from Texas A&M University and just flew to the space in a previous flight.
Since he earned master degree in Computer Science at Texas A&M University, I asked him a question that I've been wondering for years that the advantage of having background in computer based areas for working as an astronaut. The answer was "not at all", he never felt that. He added that you should not be a superman but keep good grades, must be outstanding among thousand of applicants and be a good team-player. Those were general answers but he talked gently and eagerly. However, why I didn't get the answer I really wanted might be because of my English. Generally, an astronaut is used to being asked which university degree is the most competitive, and I'm afraid he might have taken my question in the same way. So I need to ask some other astronauts some day, maybe Mr. Swanson who also has a degree in CS from Texas A&M University and just flew to the space in a previous flight.
Comments