What grades do I need at GCSE and A levels to become an astronaut?

Also, what A levels do I have to choose? I have chosen maths, physics, chemistry, and biology, but I can change them if I would like to.

Also, what A levels do I have to choose? I have chosen maths, physics, chemistry, and biology, but I can change them if I would like to.

it's very important for astrophysics which is usually the degree or field you will need to get into if you want to be an astronaut.

If you look back at those that have become astronauts in the past, they are nearly all pilots, and military pilots at that. The reasons for being a pilot are quite obvious - you need to be able to actually fly the equipment, and you need to do that whilst under the effects of gravity which military pilots will have far more experience with. Also, it is generally military pilots who are chosen to become astronauts as they have the security clearance needed for many space programmes which are nearly always carried out by government agencies. Military pilots are the majority of astronauts because they are considered the very best of the best - you wouldn't want anyone less than that in command of the multi-million usually multi-billion dollar equipment.

To become a pilot in the RAF, you can find the minimum requirements on the RAF careers website really easily. They will seem very low, but the training is very challenging and so you would have to question whether meeting those requirements is really enough.

However, as we can see with things Virgin Galactic, space is now becoming a commercial enterprise with commercial personnel. So I suppose it will become more likely for civil pilots to go to space in the future. However, pilot training in the commercial sector costs tens of thousands of pounds, whereas in the military it is free. Also, you cannot be more badass than a fighter pilot (apart from possibly an astronaut).

It depends on what degree you're aiming for, but further maths would probably be useful.


Why astrophysics? It seems an odd choice of degree to become an astronaut. I'd have thought engineering, biology, chemistry or physics would be better.

chemistry has virtually nothing to do with being an astronaut. You require a degree in a physical science or engineering as a physical science which relates to astrophysics hence it being an appropriate degree. There is no degree in 'astronauting'' therefore you need to select a degree which refers to an area which is the background of the field, so astrophysics is an entirely valid degree.

So I won't need to take chemistry but I do need to take physics and further/additional mathematics? PLEASE HELP

did you ever become an astronaut, or are you still on the path for it?