Also called: Balloon Spaceflight Pilot
Pilots giant balloons that lift passenger capsules to the edge of space for sunrise views of Earth's curve.
You check weather balloons before dawn, guide the launch of a capsule hanging below a balloon the size of a stadium, and manage the gentle six-hour flight.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 2 years after high school. FAA pilot certificates (often balloon and airplane) plus company training.
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Aviation.
Growing faster than average. New commercial space roles aren't tracked by BLS; growth depends on the industry's success.
Low risk for 10 years. Automated controls help, but carrying paying passengers to the edge of space needs licensed human pilots.
Classes: Physics, Earth science, Math, Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-2011.
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