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Driven by curiosity to explore and push boundaries, human space exploration brought numerous advancements in science, technology, and society through the years. Universal and enduring, many are called to it to expand our knowledge of the heavens. If you are feeling the call yourself, you might be wondering about what kinds of people answer it and why.
Astronomers are the easy answer, but many professionals study outer space in some capacity. While most of these occupations make sense, there are a few that seem out of place. This is because the study of space has affected society a lot more than most people realize.
As space exploration and tourism grow, so will the number of people who must study outer space. By reading further, you will learn about the people who study outer space now and in the future. Check out our collection of cosmos gifts.
People study space for avariety of reasons:
Each one is rooted in human culture, psychology, religion, and social needs.
Regardless of the reason, the desire to study space is uniquely human. Some experts even say the urge to explore the heavens is genetic. Every civilization looked to the stars and wondered about them. Their stated reasons may have differed, but they all thrived on the challenge. These urges continue today in the men and women who work to expand our knowledge of the universe.
Then there is the practical side. Much of the technology we use today comes from the work of space scientists. For instance, people study space weather like solar flares to protect communication satellites from malfunctioning and other oddities.
Millions of people around the world examine the heavens. They come from all nations, backgrounds, and creeds. They may even be your neighbors. To help narrow the list, we present the most common categories below.
As the scientists of outer space, astronomers are the primary people who study space. These individuals make it their career to observe black holes, galaxies, stars, comets, planets, and other objects within the universe.
As a result, they spend their nights using complex telescopes, probes, and other image processing equipment located on Earth and in space. Their research develops and tests theories about celestial bodies, including their ages, material properties, and motion across the sky. They then report their findings to the public and other scientists through research papers and presentations.
Because they usually require expensive equipment, most astronomers hold a Ph. D. and work for an institution such as a school, technology company, or government agency. However, that only applies to professionals. Amateur astronomers come from all walks of life with little or no formal training.
Aerospace engineers plan and design the vehicles that help us reach the sky, including:
While most of their work heads into space, you directly benefit from it when traveling by air. Aerospace engineering lets airplanes fly higher and faster than ever before, making your cross-country trip take hours rather than days. You also directly benefit through the use of satellite communication and related projects.
In all cases, these people work to make sure these technologies and structures work properly once they leave the atmosphere. As such, these engineers study space to understand its limitations and requirements. For example, they ensure space vehicles use rockets where jets engine would fail from the lack of air.
Working closely with aerospace engineers, aerospace technicians test and prepare spaceships and equipment for travel to outer space. These professionals operate and maintain the testing equipment, ensuring that the testing process goes safely and as planned. They also ensure launch day goes smoothly without needless delays or issues.
While you can be an aerospace technician with relatively unrelated credentials, most of them still study outer space to be better prepared for their jobs. Like aerospace engineers, technicians want to know what works in space to calibrate their testing equipment properly. It also helps them spot potential problems before it is too late.
Astrophysicists use astronomical equipment to develop and test scientific theories about the universe. As such, they study outer space like astronauts, but their work goes way beyond the observable. Astrophysicists seek knowledge about the fundamental nature of the universe from its beginnings to its end well into the future.
Because they require a complex set of tools beyond just telescopes, astrophysicists are professional scientists with advanced degrees and work for private institutions, schools, or government agencies. As such, there are no amateur astrophysicists, in contrast to the numerous amateur astronomers.
Plasma physicists study plasma or electrically-charged fluids and gasses. By reporting their findings through research papers and complex presentations, plasma physicists impact society in numerous ways. Their work helps develop such things as new forms of energy by observing how energy interacts with matter.
They study outer space to observe the enormous clouds of natural plasma that form the stars and interstellar clouds. For example, they study the sun and solar wind to improve space weather forecasts to protect satellites, power transmission, and aircraft communication.
When it comes to outer space, most people think astronauts, and for good reasons. Astronauts are people with the opportunities to actually go into outer space and explore it personally. All professional astronauts work for government agencies, though that may change soon as the commercial space industry becomes more viable. There are already amateur astronauts thanks to them.
As the profession suggests, astronauts must study outer space for their wellbeing. Their own lives are on the line, and they must know what they can and cannot do when up there. They also undergo rigorous training to handle the extreme low and zero-gravity environments.
Robotics engineers build the robots and robotic systems that make modern industry work. Examples of their creations include:
These engineers also build the many robots and probes that venture into outer space. For instance, the rovers that roam the surface of Mars came from the minds of robotics engineers.
Because their work may end up taking off for the skies above, robotics engineers study outer space to ensure their creations can handle the harsh environment. That includes self-automated repair and navigation systems their robots must have due to natural interplanetary signal delays.
Biologists study life, including how it evolves, behaves, and interacts with the environment. They seek to understand the fundamentals of what it means to be alive, whether it is a human life, plant, or single-celled organism. Their research forms the foundations of other fields of study, including medicine, psychology, sociology, and politics.
When biologists take their research to outer space, they become astrobiologists. They seek to know how spaceflight affects living things. For instance, they want to know how outer space changes human metabolism, development, and reproduction while living on spacecraft, space stations, or colonies on other worlds.
Anthropologists study the history of human culture. They seek to understand our future by examining the behaviors, fears, and triumphs of our ancestors as well as our own. They discover who we are as humans and our place in the world through their research.
As a recent offshoot of the discipline, space anthropology asks empirical curious questions about how we adapt to the conditions of space travel and beyond.
Through their discourse, anthropologies study outer space to know how our culture might respond to:
In the end, they seek to know the shape society will take as we leave the safety of Earth.
Avionics technicians operate navigation, communication, and other aviation electronics required to keep aircraft and spacecraft flying. Their jobs also include testing, repairing, and installing instrument panels for radio devices, radar systems, and navigational aids. Because of this, they find work in repair stations, hangers, and on airfields.
These people study outer space to properly ensure the functionality of spacecraft. They also embark on understanding the potential threats to aviation equipment so they can diagnose problems better and more efficiently. In doing so, they hope their work will lead to safer, more resilient future aircraft designs.
Meteorological technicians or aides track weather patterns and climate conditions for meteorologists. They also install, maintain, and inspect meteorological equipment to ensure proper operations. Some of their duties include reading weather maps and launching weather balloons.
You will also find them walking around space launch facilities, ensuring the conditions are safe for a spaceflight. Although, their study of outer space extends to include understanding how space weather affects conditions on Earth so they can produce better forecasts.
Atmospheric scientists research climate and weather phenomena. The group includes meteorologists who create short and long-term public forecasts and general scientists who assess how weather affects human activities. They may study such things as the Northern Lights and trade winds.
These scientists use specialized equipment such as radar, weather balloons, computer models, and satellite images to observe atmospheric components and reactions. They also study outer space to learn the origin of weather systems, climate changes, and other atmospheric phenomena.
Geologists study Earth and its various properties and systems. They research landslides, earthquakes, volcanos, and floods. Geophysicists study how these systems function, such as gravity, seismic waves, and magnetic fields. Their research helps us understand our home in the universes, though it also helps us find resources such as gas and oil.
Both groups study outer space to see Earth as a whole relative to other planets and celestial bodies. For instance, they research other planets to get a better look at similar phenomena found on Earth, including stuff below the surface. They also look for the origins of rocks and minerals that might have come to Earth as comets or meteorites.
The above individuals research outer space as a part of their careers. Whether through industry or academics, they see space science as their life’s work with all the challenges that come with it. Some will get to travel to the limits of outer space and beyond, while others will observe through telescopes and other instruments.
However, they are not the only ones who study space. Millions of people do it as a fascination and hobby. Others do so because it may be useful to them in the future. Either way, they are living proof that you do not need a space studies degree to gaze upon the stars.
What was once limited to astronomers now extends to millions around the world. People from all walks of life study the stars and outer space to better understand themselves and their place in the universe. Some actively work in space research, communication, and travel, while others take a more amateur approach. Either way, they take immense pride in what they do.
