i want to pursue my career as an astronaut.....(read ahead)?

I think that's great that you already know what you want to do. The best thing is to keep yourself informed. Go to your library, get some books on the subject, read up on everything you can. Talk to your school councilor. They might be able to help you. Go on the Internet. Go to Google or any other search engine. Look up some colleges which specialize in the subject. Being an astronaut is a very brave goal. You can also after you have read books, rented documentary DVDs, given yourself some knowledge, then write a letter to "NASA". The Internet will help with contact information for them. Write them and tell them that you are very serious about becoming an astronaut. Ask them which schools are around for you to go to after high school. Ask them lots of questions. When you have all your knowledge and write to them, they will think that you are very intelligent for your age and consider your letter for the future. Take vacations to Cape Canaveral where the spaceships lift off from. I think NASA is in Texas. Go there for a vacation. Keep at it...always and keep informing yourself on the subject. Knowledge is a great tool. Someone will pick up on it. Maybe there is a trade school you can go to after high school in regard to becoming an astronaut. Keep asking, keep talking, and keep studying~! You will accomplish your goal. I wish I could help you more. GOOD LUCK!~~

Astronauts come from many different backgrounds. The most common that I've heard of tend to be engineering, science, or medicine. And usually they all have at least a Master's degree or Ph.D. Plus you have to be in excellent physical shape.

If you like science, you could take either mechanical or aerospace engineering. Robotics is also a good area to explore. Being a doctor would probably work. If you wanted you could go to a military college, where they typically pay for your university and later you can learn to fly a jet, which is where most of the shuttle pilots came from.

I'm in aerospace engineering, and I can say it's very interesting if you like aircraft and space-ships. Mechanical engineering isn't as focussed on space as much. I'm not quite sure what cosmology is... sorry.

Study math and sciences. Astronauts typically have PhD's, and are in very good shape. Most have military training, but that's not required.

Contact NASA. Their public affairs will be able to advise you on what they would consider a good course of action for you. And, be persistent. Write 'em once a month. Let them know you're *thoroughly* interested. They may have a Mentoring program - ask about that. See if someone there would be interested in assisting you.

Good luck!

Learn to fly. You can start flight instruction at age 16 and get your private license at 17 or later. Go into Navy or USAF ROTC and do a hitch as an officer in one of those branches. Make excellent grades and absolutely do not get into any trouble with the law, especially with drugs.

And start by checking out www.nasa.gov.

Good luck.

Tune in to NASA TV

the guys that made it are often saying what route they took

and how lucky they were

but do note that they are all old men up there

and a lot flew fighters in the USAF

and the woman that was up there the longest was a Navy Commander

If you dream of going into space, the Air Force would be the best way in.

You need to be smart, good at math and science.

Start at this link:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/outreach/jobsinfo/astr...

Contact NASA and ask them to send you info about the program. GOOD LUCK!!! I hope you succeed.