NASA has launched a recruitment drive to find the next generation of space travellers, offering a salary of $164,395 (around £123,000) a year for new recruits. The American space agency has warned that deep-space assignments lasting a year or more come with "extreme isolation, austere living conditions and separation from loved ones."
Successful applicants will get the chance to "help write the next chapter of human spaceflight" and "join NASA as America returns to the Moon, builds the Moon base, and lays the groundwork for the first crewed missions to Mars."
Salary and Working Conditions
While the job description may sound exciting, the pay is tied to rigid federal pay scales because astronauts are classified as US civil servants. There are no overtime payments and no hazard bonuses for putting one's life on the line. Whether typing up spreadsheets in an office or floating outside the International Space Station, the government pays standard grade wages.
Space veteran Nicole Stott, a retired astronaut and engineer who notched up three months on the International Space Station in 2009 and became only the tenth woman in history to complete a spacewalk, previously described the wage as "Not a lot," adding: "You don't become an astronaut to get paid a lot of money."
Entry Requirements and Training
The entry requirements are demanding. Hopefuls need US citizenship, a STEM master's degree, three years of professional experience and five glowing references. Once hired, candidates face two intense years of preparation at Houston's Johnson Space Center, spending hundreds of hours mastering spacewalks, wrestling robotic arms, enduring microgravity and piloting supersonic T-38 jets.
In orbit, the daily grind involves conducting intricate lab experiments, snapping orbital photography, running maintenance, and offloading cargo capsules ferrying food and supplies from Earth.
High Demand and Application Deadline
Despite the lack of danger money and years of gruelling solitude, the role remains highly sought after. During a previous recruitment drive in 2024, more than 8,000 hopefuls battled it out for just ten coveted slots.
Unveiling the latest search on X under the banner "The Universe Is Calling," NASA deputy administrator Matt Anderson said: "The window is open. The mission is waiting. And the only thing missing from the greatest adventure humanity has ever embarked upon is you." Scott Tingle, chief astronaut and chair of the selection board, added: "For those who apply, becoming a NASA astronaut is more than a career opportunity. It is a chance to join a legacy of explorers who have pushed the boundaries of discovery and play a role in the missions that will shape humanity's future in space."
Applicants have until 11.59pm EST on December 3 to submit their applications.
