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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
NASA reveals how much astronauts really get paid
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 (pictured), a retired astronaut, engineer and aquanaut, gave a blunt three–word response. '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. 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 sexual intercourse in space. In response, the former astronaut said: 'Probably. I don't think there's anything that would physically prevent you from having sexual intercourse 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 sexual intercourse there. And if somebody wants to have sexual intercourse in space, I think they'll figure out how to have sexual intercourse in space.'
Digital Trends
05-08-2025
- Science
- Digital Trends
How the heck does an astronaut wash their hair in space? Here's how
The microgravity conditions of the International Space Station (ISS) mean that its human inhabitants are barred from eating crumbly foods as the particles could float away and clog up air vents and other machinery, and could even become a hygiene issue. Similarly, liquids also have to be carefully managed, as loose droplets could cause havoc if they find their way into electronic systems aboard the orbital outpost. So, how do astronauts tackle the seemingly tricky task of washing their hair during a six-month mission aboard the station? Recommended Videos Well, NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers on Monday shared a video (below) of herself doing just that. Sunday was hair wash day! — Nichole 'Vapor' Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) August 4, 2025 'It's not unlike [how you do it] on Earth, but you don't have the advantage of gravity pulling the water or letting the water flow,' Ayers, who arrived at the station in March, explains as she gets started. To wet her hair — and in Ayers' case there's a lot of it — the astronaut uses a water-filled pouch with a one-way valve that lets her carefully control the release of water. To prevent droplets from becoming airborne, she presses the tube directly onto her scalp before releasing the water. She also releases water into the ends of her hair, which is the longest among all of the astronauts currently aboard the space station. While it's hardly soaking at the end of the process, it's wet enough that she can apply some shampoo — using a shampoo bar — to start washing it. 'For the rinses, I'll usually just do my scalp,' Ayers says. 'That way, you can work it through to the rest of my hair.' After giving it a quick dry, she adds some conditioner, gives it a quick brush, and then says that she'll let it dry naturally. 'The water will dry, get into the air, and then we'll reclaim it, and it'll probably become somebody's coffee tomorrow,' Ayers says in a nod to the station's recycling systems. For more on how astronauts live their daily lives on the ISS — including the delicate act of going to the bathroom — check out these short videos made by the crewmembers themselves over the years.
