Canadian students / Future space workers

Space Careers

A realistic guide for young Canadians who want to become astronauts, work at the Canadian Space Agency, or build space missions as engineers, scientists, doctors, technologists, coders, communicators, designers, or mission-support specialists.

Find student programs CSA careers hub

Best first move

Choose a field you love

Source snapshot checked May 6, 2026

Career path

How to aim for space from Canada

The astronaut path is narrow, but the space sector is broad. Canada needs people who can design hardware, write software, analyze data, care for astronauts, communicate science, and operate missions.

What to do first

A student pathway

1

Elementary school

  • Stay curious about space, Earth, weather, robotics, coding, and living things.
  • Read, ask questions, build models, join science fairs, and try classroom ISS activities.
  • Practise explaining ideas clearly; astronauts and mission teams communicate constantly.

2

High school

  • Take as much math, science, technology, and engineering-related coursework as your school offers.
  • Add coding, robotics, electronics, design, media, leadership, sports, and teamwork experiences.
  • For Quebec students, plan your Secondary 4 and 5 prerequisites with CEGEP or career programs in mind.

3

CEGEP, college, or university

  • Choose a program you genuinely like: engineering, science, computer science, medicine, health science, trades, communications, business, or design can all connect to space.
  • Look for co-op, internship, research, robotics, satellite, rocketry, or science-communication experience.
  • Keep building French and English. Other languages can also help in international space work.

4

Early career

  • Apply to CSA student pathways, Canadian space companies, university labs, observatories, robotics teams, and satellite organizations.
  • Build a portfolio: code, lab work, engineering notebooks, outreach, design work, research posters, or mission simulations.
  • For astronaut selection later, build excellent health, judgment, teamwork, communication, and professional experience.

Astronaut route

What Canada looks for in astronauts

The Canadian Space Agency says astronaut candidates usually need excellent health, strong personal qualities, a university background in science, engineering, medicine, or dentistry, and relevant professional experience. Recruitment also evaluates language ability, judgment, integrity, reasoning, teamwork, communication, motivation, and resourcefulness.

Citizenship: Persons living in Canada and Canadian citizens abroad can apply; preference is given to Canadian citizens.

Study: CSA lists engineering or science bachelor's degrees, including fields such as computer science, and doctorates in medicine or dentistry.

Experience: CSA requirements include relevant professional experience or a Canadian medical licence.

Training: After selection, Canadian astronauts train for about two years at NASA before continuing mission preparation.

CSA astronaut guide CSA requirements About astronaut work

Space agency route

How to work in the space sector without being an astronaut

Most people who make space missions happen never fly to space. They design spacecraft, test instruments, write control software, plan missions, analyze science data, protect cybersecurity, manage projects, support astronaut health, and explain discoveries to the public.

CSA: Canadian students can look at co-op, internship, FSWEP, and research affiliate pathways.

NASA: NASA says most NASA jobs require U.S. citizenship, so Canadian students should also look at Canadian, international partner, university, and industry routes.

Companies: Canadian space companies and suppliers often hire engineers, technologists, technicians, software developers, business staff, and communicators.

CSA student jobs Types of space careers NASA career FAQ

Choose a lane

Space jobs students may not know about

Engineering

Builds systems

Spacecraft, robotics, mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering

Engineers design, test, and improve spacecraft, satellites, robotics, thermal systems, power systems, antennas, and mission hardware.

Science

Studies data

Physics, biology, chemistry, geology, astronomy, Earth science

Scientists design experiments, analyze mission data, study planets and Earth, and help answer questions about life, climate, materials, radiation, and exploration.

Computing

Controls missions

Software, data science, AI, cybersecurity, and mission systems

Coders build simulations, process satellite data, create control systems, protect networks, and help mission teams make decisions from large amounts of information.

Health

Protects crews

Medicine, psychology, nutrition, exercise, and human research

Space health workers study how microgravity, isolation, radiation, sleep, nutrition, and exercise affect astronauts and people on Earth.

Technology

Tests hardware

Technicians, technologists, machinists, electronics, and operations

Many space missions need people who can assemble, inspect, troubleshoot, document, and operate complex equipment safely and precisely.

Communication

Explains space

Education, writing, media, design, law, policy, and project management

Space agencies also need people who teach, write, translate, design visuals, manage budgets, handle law and policy, and help the public understand why missions matter.

Action plan

What students can start this year

Build proof that you learn by doing

Keep a folder of projects: code, science notes, robotics builds, design sketches, experiment results, presentations, and photos of teamwork.

Ask adults for real pathways

Tell teachers and guidance counsellors that you are interested in space work. Ask about science fairs, robotics, CEGEP prerequisites, co-op programs, university labs, and local STEM organizations.

Use student programs as stepping stones

Try programs like Tomatosphere, Astro Pi, ARISS, EarthKAM, Mission X, science fairs, coding clubs, robotics teams, and satellite or rocketry projects when available.

Stay realistic and flexible

Becoming an astronaut is possible but rare. A strong space career can also mean keeping astronauts safe, sending robots to the Moon, analyzing Earth data, or building satellites from Canada.

Official links

Where to keep exploring

CSA careers, jobs, and internships CSA 10 tips for space careers CSA internships and student jobs CSA types of space careers CSA astronaut requirements NASA careers SpaceX careers MDA Space careers Telesat careers