By Joseph Horvath, Space Academy CEO
As the space industry continues to develop, there is an increasing usage of the term “space professional”. But what does that really mean? Or better yet, what should it mean to the industry?
Mature industries often develop coherent career paths, specialties, and standards which lead to the development of defined occupational roles. Common dictionary definitions say, “A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity.” According to IEEE, the term also “describes the standards of education that prepare members of the profession with the particular skills necessary to perform their specific role.”
Identifying the standards of education, training, knowledge, and skills necessary to be considered a professional within the Space Industry becomes more complicated than some other industries due to the broad and cross-functional nature of Space as a domain. For example, space operations and astronautics encompasses everything from Satellite Communications, Remote Sensing, Weather, PNT, Launch, Science, Tourism and more.
