26 January 2024 , 15:06
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Turns out that landing on the moon isn't a job that can be done while working from home.
Growing up, many of us wanted to be an astronaut - to put on the NASA outfit we wore every Halloween and prove that little green aliens really do exist. For many of us, this ambitious dream slowly faded as we got older.
However, if you're still hopeful that you have what it takes to become a professional astronaut, you may have stumbled upon the UK Government's bizarre job description under its careers advice. It is filled with very detailed yet seemingly obvious information that has left Brits scratching their heads.
Starting off with a thorough definition, the government says astronauts 'fly spacecraft and do experiments in space' (yes, that's verbatim). It claims the starting salary is £40,000 (only £7,000 above the UK median average salary) and could require working on evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
It also points out that the gig, which will see workers logging '39-41 hours a week', may require working away from home. To apply for astronaut training with major bodies such as the European Astronaut Corps or NASA, you'll need to be between 27 and 37 years old, it states.
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You should speak English fluently and preferably speak basic Russian, as it's commonly used on the International Space Station. Being a pilot with at least 1,000 hours of flying is also a bonus, if that's what you've been filling up your weekends with.
And of course, you'll need to have a relevant degree. This could be in biology, chemistry, psychics, engineering, medicine, aeronautics, and maths.
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The description also warns that you will also need to hold US citizenship or dual citizenship to work at NASA. But worry not, it will all be worth it. The National Careers Service states those with several years of experience could progress to other careers - including 'teaching' and 'setting up your own consultancy business'.
Unfortunately, the government says it can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for astronauts - but you can set alerts here in case an opportunity opens up. We have our fingers crossed for you!
One man named Ian posted the job description on X (formerly Twitter) - which baffled users. "Sorry but: Speak Russian, Masters in a competitive field, 1,000 hrs experience flying a fighter jet, US dual citizenship, £40k a year starting," one user wrote. "My bloody word."
Another said: "The 'you could work evenings, weekends, and bank holidays' is cracking me up." While a third added: "Imagine being an apprentice astronaut". A fourth wrote: "The working away from home bit is a nice touch."