It’s the job that puts the average 9–5 to shame.
But while being an astronaut is a career many dream of, you might wonder how well it pays.
Compared to office workers – who may complain about their commute – these highly–trained individuals are regularly launched into space at 17,500mph.
While Earth-based employees might not rate their office canteen or grumble about the lack of toilets in the workplace, astronauts live off dehydrated food packets and must use specially–designed bathrooms.
There’s also the constant battle against weightlessness, and many experience muscle loss during missions.
So you’d be forgiven for thinking that astronauts get paid a hefty wage for their daredevil profession.
However, one NASA employee has revealed it’s not the most lucrative career.
When asked about how much she got paid Nicole Stott, a retired astronaut, engineer and aquanaut, gave a blunt three–word response.
Nicole Stott is a retired NASA astronaut who spent more than 100 days in space. She has written a book about her experience and what it taught her about Earth
Ms Stott made the comments during a Q&A. Her response to how much astronauts were paid may shock some people
‘Not a lot’, she replied, when asked by LAD Bible. ‘Government civil servant. You don’t become an astronaut to get paid a lot of money.’
Throughout her career, Ms Stott flew on two expeditions and spent over 100 days in space. She launched the STS–128 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2009 and spent three months there.
She was the 10th woman to perform a spacewalk and the first person to operate the ISS robotic arm to capture a free–flying cargo vehicle.
According to NASA, the annual salary for astronauts is $152,258 (£112,347) per year, but this can vary depending on education and experience level.
Earlier this year, it emerged that NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore – who were stuck on the ISS for nine months – would likely receive a tiny payout for the inconvenience.
Former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman told the Washingtonian that astronauts only receive their basic salary without overtime benefits for ‘incidentals’ – a small amount they are ‘legally obligated to pay you’.
‘For me it was around $4 (£2.95) a day,’ she said. Ms Coleman received approximately $636 (£469) in incidental pay for her 159-day mission between 2010 and 2011.
Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore, with salaries ranging between $125,133 (£92,293) and $162,672 (£119,980) per year, could earn little more than $1,000 (£737) in ‘incidental’ cash on top of their basic salary, based on those figures.
Ms Stott (middle) pictured with crew mates about to board space shuttle Discovery on a supply mission to the ISS
Ms Stott waves to a photographer as she prepares for a launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 2011
Meanwhile Neil Armstrong was paid a salary of $27,401 (£20,209) and was the highest paid of those aboard the Apollo 11 flight in 1969, according to the Boston Herald.
To become an astronaut they must go through extensive training. Positions are highly competitive with only a few available to those who have the right experience and meet NASA’s physical and mental qualifications.
NASA selects a new astronaut class typically once every two years, selecting around 0.08 per cent of all applicants into their training program.
Ms Stott also answered other questions about her job– including whether or not it’s possible to have sex in space.
In response, the former astronaut said: ‘Probably. I don’t think there’s anything that would physically prevent you from having sex in space.
‘I don’t know that anybody has while they were there, I did not. And but just like, you know, I think about floating and swimming in a pool, you can have sex there.
‘And if somebody wants to have sex in space, I think they’ll figure out how to have sex in space.’
HOW DO ASTRONAUTS EAT IN SPACE AND HOW IS FOOD STORED?
Astronauts eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Calorie requirements differ for astronauts. For instance, a small woman would require only about 1,900 calories a day, while a large man would require about 3,200 calories.
An astronaut can choose from many types of foods such as fruits, nuts, peanut butter, chicken, beef, seafood, candy, brownies, etc.
Available drinks include coffee, tea, orange juice, fruit punches and lemonade.
An astronaut can choose from many types of foods such as fruits, nuts, peanut butter, chicken, beef, seafood, candy, brownies, etc. Available drinks include coffee, tea, orange juice, fruit punches and lemonade
No alcohol is allowed to be consumed on the space station.
Condiments, such as ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise, are provided.
Salt and pepper are available but only in a liquid form because astronauts can’t sprinkle salt and pepper on their food in space.
The salt and pepper would simply float away. There is a danger they could clog air vents, contaminate equipment or get stuck in an astronaut’s eyes, mouth or nose.
Preparation varies with the food type. Some foods can be eaten in their natural forms, such as brownies and fruit.
Other foods require adding water, such as macaroni and cheese or spaghetti.
An oven is provided in the space station to heat foods to the proper temperature.
There are no refrigerators in space, so space food must be stored and prepared properly to avoid spoilage, especially on longer missions.
