Astronaut Income

• NASA, the U.S. space agency, states that salaries for civilian astronauts are based on the federal government's general schedule pay scale for grades GS-12 and GS-13. That grade is set according to each person's academic achievements and experience. As of 2011, GS-12 pay starts at $65,140 per year and a GS-13 can earn up to $100,701 annually. For astronauts who are in the military, their pay is set according to their active duty status. No extra or special pay is given beyond their military income.
  
  

Pilot Requirements

• Many people aspire to join NASA’s corps of astronauts, but very few are chosen. Commander and pilot astronauts must have flight experience, accumulating at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in a jet aircraft. Highly desired by NASA are those pilots who have flight test experience.
  
  

General Requirements

• Every astronaut is expected to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; an advanced degree is preferred. Areas of study include biological science, engineering, mathematics and physical science. NASA takes under consideration the quality of academic preparation when choosing candidates.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Astronauts must meet specific NASA physical requirements to voyage into space. These requirements are similar to what military and civilian physicals entail and include candidates meeting blood pressure limits of 140/90 in a sitting position; distant visual acuity of 20/100 uncorrected, but corrected to 20/20; and a stature from 62 inches to no more than 75 inches.
  
  

Payload Specialists

• Not every person who flies with NASA is an astronaut. The space agency uses the term “payload specialists” to describe those people who are permitted to fly on select missions. These people, including foreign nationals, are sometimes nominated by NASA, by a foreign sponsor or by the designated payload sponsor. For example, Chiaki Mukai, a cardiovascular surgeon who was part of the July 1994 crew for the International Microgravity Laboratory, was the first Japanese woman to fly into space. That mission included payload specialists from Canada, France and Germany as well.