----Don't miss what astronaut Brian Binnie had to say about his exciting job! Scroll down!----
Most likely, you already have a little bit of an idea of what astronauts do. Astronauts work aboard spacecrafts, piloting them into space or working on a special part of a mission!
To become an astronaut, people have to go through lots of training and experience. Most astronauts study things like engineering, math, science, or computer technology and receive advanced degrees. Sometimes, certain types of astronauts will also be people with backgrounds as teachers or physicians. Many astronauts have also had military training with the Air Force, Marine Corps, or Navy. Astronauts who pilot spacecrafts also usually need a background in piloting jets or working as a test pilot.
Aside from education and experience, astronauts also need to be in good physical shape (such as having a healthy heart and good eyesight) and must be good at working with others, since there are typically multiple astronauts on a mission together. Men and women who meet the requirements enter a competitive application process and, if selected, then train for several years before taking off into space!