So you want to work in SPACE?
A stronauts and astronomers are usually the first jobs that spring to mind when you think of space careers, but have you ever heard of a space lawyer, an astro-ecologist or a space marketing executive? Space offers a wider range of career opportunities than you may think: in engineering, business, web development, writing, accountancy, art, scientific research, data analysis, computing and medicine.
The UK space industry is growing too. It has a total annual income of £16.4bn and employs over 45,000 people. Plus there are seven new spaceports planned to be operational in the UK within the next six years. The UK is also a member of the European Space Agency (ESA), which trains astronauts and launches missions to explore the Solar System and beyond. There are many routes into the space sector, and which one you take depends on your unique blend of skills and interests.
Consider a mission like the James Webb Space Telescope. Engineers design, build and maintain the spacecraft. Computer programmers write code so the spacecraft can perform tasks and communicate with Mission Control. Flight controllers make everything run smoothly. Lawyers ensure legislation is in place for the launch. Astrophysicists analyse data and artists illustrate
