Potential for progression at now age 70

[Martyn Arthur]

Hi.
At age 70 having retired and now having time to study I am just completing my first-year physics degree at the open university with good results.
It is I think healthy and good to have an ongoing ambition, mine to get a job with the ESA before I am 80, maybe but clearly optimistically to be the oldest man in space (distance to the space station not one of the current commercial trips).
What I am looking for here, I can't define clearly.
Anything that will help me along with this new career, contacts, advice et al.
Any thoughts, please?
Martyn

 

[Vanadium 50]

If you look at astronaut bios, they spend typically 25 years after starting college before going into space. So 95 is more likely than 80. The mean life expectancy of 70 year olds is 14 years.

You also don't just have to survive. You need to be healthy enough to fly and to work once you get there.

The oldest person in space was a passenger. And was 90.

I think your best plan is to make a ton of money and using a space tourism company. Virgin Galactic will get you 50 km up for about 500,000 USD.

 

[Bandersnatch]

Why are you like that, V50? Why does it bother you so when your fellow human dreams the dream?

FYI, >I< can take people 1 km up for 5k USD in my Suzuki. That's 50% off Virgin's rates. Just putting it out there.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I'm sorry. I thought providing an actual path forward will be helpful,

Let me change my advice: Of course you can go into space! Why are you even getting your degree at all? Just run right down to the ESA office and they'll put you in a rocket ship right away!

Better?

$500K is a lot of money, but not an unatainable amount. In the US, the average (not median) net worth of a 65-74 year old is $1.2M. In the US, 38% of 70 year olds already have enough net worth for a Virgin Galactic ticket.

I think my plan to buy a Virgin Galactic ticket has a better chance of success than the OPs. Let's take the 38% at face value - do you think his plan is more likely to work?

 

[phinds]

There you go again, bringing reality and logic into a discussion.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Mea culpa.

Thing is, he actually likely can get into space - or close to it - following the path I outlined. That's above 99.9% of the atmosphere. And you get 3 minutes of weightlessness.

 

[berkeman]

Why are you like that, V50? Why does it bother you so when your fellow human dreams the dream?

This was a pretty reasonable post by V50 IMO. Nothing wrong with being honest. And he included some math that was interesting and hopefully helpful to the OP.

FYI, >I< can take people 1 km up for 5k USD in my Suzuki. That's 50% off Virgin's rates. Just putting it out there.

This on the other hand confused me. $5k is 50% off of $500k? Carry the one...

EDIT -- Oh wait, are you charging by the vertical mile?

 

[BillTre]

It is I think healthy and good to have an ongoing ambition, mine to get a job with the ESA before I am 80, maybe but clearly optimistically to be the oldest man in space (distance to the space station not one of the current commercial trips).

An inspiring goal, but not necessarily likely to succeed.
However, if it were my goal, I would look into what it is that ESA might look for in those it sends to space. This would likely involve extensive technical/scientific training or some special talent.
Alternative approaches might exist for getting into space, like journalist in space, artist in space, of some way to hitch a ride with a rich guy.

I think you'll have to wait 10 years to beat Shatner for age.

Irregardless of the prospects of your endeavor, just do the stuff you find interesting and fun on the way to your goal.

 

[Martyn Arthur]

Ah well, I was hoping for some constructive thoughts on how I could move forward at age 70.
I don't seek to flog the age but it is a fact.
I qualified as a private UK pilot ten years ago at age 60, and with my ppl and oxygen went to 20,000" to look across and down to view... the cloud coming across that ground jet flight.
Shatner...well...so what, not what I want to do!
So please, come on guys, help this aged first-year undergraduate accelerate into the World of physics, please.
Martyn

 

[vela]

At age 70 having retired and now having time to study I am just completing my first-year physics degree at the open university with good results.
It is I think healthy and good to have an ongoing ambition, mine to get a job with the ESA before I am 80, maybe but clearly optimistically to be the oldest man in space (distance to the space station not one of the current commercial trips).
What I am looking for here, I can't define clearly.
Anything that will help me along with this new career, contacts, advice et al.
Any thoughts, please?

I'd expect age discrimination will likely rear its ugly head, so I think you might find it hard to get ESA to seriously consider hiring you. From ESA's perspective, they might think "How long can this guy realistically work here? Do we really want to invest the time and effort into training only to have him retire/die in ten years?"

 

[berkeman]

Ah well, I was hoping for some constructive thoughts on how I could move forward at age 70.

The replies have been meant to be constructive. We don't sugar-coat stuff here. That's not how professional scientists, engineers and mathematicians deal with the world.

It is I think healthy and good to have an ongoing ambition

Absolutely. One of my Mentors through the years told me to strive to be a "goal-oriented achiever". That has helped me over many years of school and professional life.

mine to get a job with the ESA before I am 80, maybe but clearly optimistically to be the oldest man in space

Unrealistic goals are counterproductive, IMO. You want realistic achievable goals, with intermediate goals along the way to keep you motivated and feeling good about your achievements.

I'm not familiar with the Open University that you are using, but a good set of shorter-term goals would involve getting good grades in your classes and doing well in exams in your subjects that you download from other universities. That will give you confidence that you are learning well, and on a good trajectory.

I would also encourage you to look at other (more realistic) longer-term goals, like being an outstanding instructor at your local community college, for example. There is a lot of value in having intelligent, caring instructors at the university and pre-university levels.

Best wishes, and do well.

 

[Vanadium 50]

age discrimination

No more (and no less) so than commercial pilots.

ESA imposes a limit of 50 years. Unfortunately, despite what any or all of us want, 70 > 50.

 

[Rive]

get a job with the ESA before I am 80
...
to be the oldest man in space

Well, for the first part: getting a job (or at least: being associated) is certainly doable, but I would suggest a different approach. Try the journalist path instead!
The competition is definitely fierce, but still, at least that moat is crossable.

Through physics or engineering, without prior work or fame on the field - just not realistic.

As for the second part - with the development of space tourism, if you manage to be associated with some space agencies (don't stop with ESA!) then it may not be entirely impossible to get a seat (with considerable discount, and/or by sponsorship) in the future.

Go for it!

 

[Martyn Arthur]

Thank you so very much guys; I have ADHD which makes my perception confused and you have been really helpful; Thanks again for your time.
Martyn