One positive note for astronaut wannabees - the average astronaut age is relatively high, mid 30s is the average and 40s is not uncommon. You have plenty of time to build up a respectable science career and get fit!

Although all astronauts have stellar (ha) resumes, most are not test pilots. Mission specialists come from all areas of science: the current cohort include a marine biologist, geologist, oceanographer and a ton of aero/astro engineers

Then you remember that you're also competing with Jonny Kim:

> The California native trained and operated as a Navy SEAL, completing more than 100 combat operations and earning a Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat “V”. Afterward, he went on to complete a degree in Mathematics at the University of San Diego and a Doctorate of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Yeah, I am in my 30s. It takes a lot of years to build up to be someone who SHOULD be inside one of those capsules.

"astronaut" as a singular vocation that takes years of training is a dead end profession. Future spacecraft will be automated passenger vehicles with WiFi and movies.

> that takes years of training is a dead end profession.

The sky's the limit!

I think as far as SpaceX is concerned you'd merely by the the life guard and maybe tour guide, not the pilot; their vessels' pilots are automatic to save on cost.

Every single manned space flight since the beginning in the 1960s has been more or less automated. Some early landings and dockings were flown manually but even those are mostly automated now.

It's not really a cost saving measure, it's just that machines are much more capable of performing the precision maneuvers it takes to fly spacecraft under normal conditions.