Question: how did you know you wanted to do space engineering? and did anyone say that you should not and just look at you when you did say it?

James Harpur answered on 6 Mar 2017:

Hi Rebal,

Thanks for the question.

I knew that I loved space and wanted to work on space missions. At the beginning I would’ve accepted any aspect of the space industry to work in. The honest reason for this was that I didn’t think it was likely that I would ever work on a space mission, so I would’ve taken anything. I was fortunate enough to be accepted for a summer space program in 2012 that was in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center. The day I saw the launchpad at NASA, the one that launched the space shuttles and Moon rockets, I said this is what I wanted to do. As cheesey and Hollywood as that sounds, it’s the truth. I didn’t do engineering for the Leaving or in college so I didn’t think I could do it but after that summer, I didn’t really care, I was going to give it a go. A year later, I went back to NASA for the summer as a spacecraft engineer intern, and I am now in Japan working as one, so I’m very happy with how things turn out.

And on the question of people’s reactions. Yes all the time. Still to the day. Just ignore everyone, even your parents or friends if they are telling you not to do it. And ignore every comment about it being too difficult for you, or too far fetched, or not enough money, or blah blah blah. It’s not true. There will be difficult times finding a job to get started, you will feel stupid a lot in the beginning, and people will always tell you it’s not realistic and you could make more money elsewhere, just ignore it as it is definitely worth it. No price on a job you love. In summary, just nod your head, say thanks for the advice, and forget what they said immediately.