I want to work in space but can’t afford aerospace engineering, can Mechanical Engineering still get me there?

What I love is math and astronomy. I really enjoy solving equations and learning about space, and I’ve always excelled in math and science. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to become an astronaut, but I know it almost feels impossible. Still, I genuinely enjoy studying topics like planets, galaxies, time, black holes, and more.

From my research, I learned that aerospace engineering is the most direct path. However, we’re not financially able to pursue that course, so I’m planning to take Mechanical Engineering instead and apply my knowledge to space-related fields.

Can anyone give me advice?