Also called: Shock Physicist, Light-Gas Gun Researcher
Fires tiny projectiles at up to 7 kilometers per second with giant gas guns to learn how space debris, meteorites and armor behave.
You load a pea-sized aluminum ball into a two-stage light-gas gun the length of a bus, seal the target chamber and fire it at a spacecraft shield. Ultra-high-speed cameras catch the flash in millionths of a second. Then you compare the crater with your computer simulation and figure out why they disagree.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD in physics, mechanical or aerospace engineering; some technicians work with a bachelor's.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science.
Growing about average. Small field tied to space and defense research budgets.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI speeds simulations and image analysis; designing experiments and running dangerous gas guns stay human.
Classes: AP Physics C, AP Calculus, Robotics or shop class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2012.
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