What does it take to become a space archaeologist? I analyse a weird video.

In this post I looked at a few weird bot-generated videos (or AI-generated videos? I can't tell!) about space archaeology - they were both slightly alarming but also a bit exciting as they demonstrated that space archaeology has made it! People (and bots) know what it is!

There's a few more of them. I found this one particularly interesting as it's about how you can pursue a career in space archaeology. Let's break it down.

Careers in Astronomy: Space Archaeologist

Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of space archaeology - a unique blend of astronomy, archaeology and history. 

Well sort of yes and sort of no. Space archaeology is archaeology, although like any historical archaeology, research in documents and archives are part of your suite of methods. You do also need some understanding of astronomy, astrodynamics and planetary science. It's not a career in astronomy, though. There are some astronomers who call themselves archaeologists because they are looking back in time at earlier periods of the universe. This makes the common mistake of assuming that archaeology is about old things. And I get it - it's in the title and some types of archaeology are about the far distant past. However, the definition of archaeology that archaeologists use is that it's about how humans use material culture to create societies and adapt to change over time - and this means recent time, or the present.

Archaeological theories and methods have a lot of application for how you might identify 'cultural' behaviour from astronomical data, but you'd still need a degree in archaeology to understand how to do this.  

Roles and responsibilities

As a space archaeologist, your mission is to uncover the mysteries of the cosmos by analyzing ancient artefacts, spacecraft and debris left behind in space. You're like a cosmic detective, solving the puzzles of our celestial past.

Space archaeology isn't really on a cosmic scale as it concerns the human record of engagement with space. It's not, I repeat not, about alien artefacts. Archaeology shares with SETI the problems of interpretation - to try and understand other minds wether they are aliens or from another culture. You could look at the 1940s and 50s as another culture! The past is a foreign country - they do things differently there, as LP Hartley famously said. I discuss this in my foreword to Speaking Beyond Earth. Perspectives on Messaging Across Deep Space and Cosmic Time so I might as well give it a plug here.

The 'ancient artefacts' could mean ancient asttonomical-related material culture on Earth - how humans imagined, theorised and engaged with the heavens. That's called archaeoastronomy (not space archaeology). 

So you're not going to be looking at cosmic or celestial artefacts, but spacecraft and debris left behind by humans. And believe me, there is plenty here to keep you fascinated!

Skills and qualifications

A curious mind, strong analytic skills, knowledge of astronomy, familiarity with space technology, and attention to detail. 

Well those are all good things to have, although I'd argue that a curious mind, strong analytic skills and attention to detail are good to have for any job. (They're not qualifications though, see below). Knowledge of space stuff is essential.  I spend a lot of time reading engineering documents and articles in space and planetary science journals too.  It helps that I have high school physics. chemistry and maths.

Education and training

A background in astronomy, archaeology or a related field is essential. Many space archaeologists hold advanced degrees in these areas.

Yeah, nah. You need a degree in archaeology to be a space archaeologist. Preferably a minimum of honours or masters. I'm sorry to tell you this but you can't be a space archaeologist with a degree in astronomy, as you won't know any of the method, theory, and perhaps most importantly, ethics of archaeology. In the US archaeology comes under the umbrella of anthropology, so anthropology is acceptable. A degree in cultural heritage management, museum studies or conservation is also helpful. 

Salary

The salary can vary widely depending on your experience and the organization you work for. It can range from $50, 00 to $100, 000 or more per year.

They don't say what currency of course! I guess this might be true of any entry level job. But you won't find space archaeologist as a category of job because to my knowledge, there is no-one currently employed anywhere as a space archaeologist. If such a job should be advertised, I want first dibs!

All space archaeologists currently work as academics, museum curators, or heritage consultants, but space archaeology is their research area or just a part of their job. I would say we're mostly academics. My job is mainly teaching, for example. The research component is space archaeology. I don't get to work at it all day, although that would be my dream.

Work environment

Christina Koch on the International Space Station, 2020. Credit: NASA

Space archaeologists work in a mix of environments, from labs analyzing dara to observatories observing the skies. You might also have the chance to collaborate with space agencies or research institutions.

You won't be working in an observatory or scanning the skies. You might use data from planetary observation or space junk monitoring though, and you might sit a lab at a computer analyzing data, such as that collected by the International Space Station Archaeological Project. You'll likely be part of a research institution, such as a university. And it's highly likely that you'll have to be talking to a space agency at some point.

Space archeologist

Your work helps us understand the history of space exploration and the artifacts left behind by humanity's journey into the cosmos. It contributes to our knowledge of our place in the universe. Space archeology is a thrilling career that combines history, science and exploration. If you're passionate about uncovering the secrets of space, and preserving our cosmic heritage, this might be the perfect path for you.

Agree!