Women outnumber men for the first time in NASA’s newest astronaut class. The agency selected six women and four men from more than 8,000 applicants. The candidates have now completed just over half of their two-year training programme.
Their training covers the basic skills needed for space missions, including spacewalking and operating the space station. They also learn to fly jet aircraft and control a robotic arm. Once they qualify, they could receive assignments near Earth or on missions to the Moon. Some may also contribute to NASA’s longer-term plans for Mars.
The candidates receive a government salary while they train. According to NASA’s 2024 pay information, qualified astronauts earn around $152,000 a year. However, they receive neither overtime pay for extra working hours nor additional pay for dangerous work.
NASA says astronauts aboard the International Space Station continue to receive their normal salaries, based on a 40-hour working week. As government employees, they are officially travelling for work while in space, so their transport, accommodation and meals are covered. These arrangements do not include extra pay for overtime or the risks of the job.
