A retired NASA astronaut has opened up about her salary during her time with the renowned space agency based in Florida.
It’s likely quite impressive to state that you work at NASA, which might partly explain why many pursue a career in the space sector.
While passion is important when choosing a career path, earning a decent salary is also a significant consideration.
Although one might assume that a position at NASA would be financially rewarding, a former astronaut reveals a different perspective.
Nicole Stott, a former NASA astronaut, engineer, and aquanaut, discussed her compensation during an interview. She described her earnings with a straightforward response.
Stott’s career at NASA was notable, including two expeditions and over 100 days spent in space. She participated in the STS-128 mission and lived aboard the International Space Station for three months.
When asked about astronaut salaries, Stott replied: “Not a lot. Government civil servant. You don’t become an astronaut to get paid a lot of money.”
According to NASA, the average astronaut salary is $152,258 annually, though it varies based on education and experience.
Moving on from salaries, Stott addressed the curiosity surrounding the possibility of having sex in space.
She remarked, “Probably. I don’t think there’s anything that would physically prevent you from having sex in space.”
Stott also addressed whether there’s a speed limit in the vastness of space, suggesting, “You know, I don’t think there really is a speed limit. I mean, there might be, but I don’t think there is. And you know, Newton was right with all these laws of motion and stuff, you know, you get it going and it’s gonna keep moving until something stops it.”