How much do astronauts get paid?

How much do astronauts get paid?

Astronauts’ annual salaries are determined using a government pay scale, and starting out, typically fall under two grades: GS-12 and GS-13. According the US government’s 2020 pay scales and a NASA job listing, a civilian astronaut in 2020 can earn between $66,167 and $161,141 per year.

Why are astronauts paid so little?

Their pay tends to be even less. The original astronauts were in the military and were paid just their military salary. A lot of it has to do with supply and demand. There are thousands of applications per year for just a few openings.

How do astronauts poop?

When it’s too full, astronauts must “put a rubber glove on and pack it down.” That’s what happens when the ISS toilet is working. The process involves using a piece of equipment with hose using suction to pull away urine or poop after an astronaut uses the bathroom.

Do astronauts pay taxes?

Unfortunately for astronauts, the IRS doesn’t consider international airspace, or international waters, or space, abroad. This means that they will have to pay US taxes on all of their income. Expats meanwhile, living abroad, can claim one or more IRS exemptions to help reduce their US tax bill, in many cases to zero.

How old is the youngest astronaut?

The youngest person to fly in space is Gherman Titov, who was 25 years old when he flew Vostok 2. (Titov was also the first person to suffer space sickness).

How much money do we spend on space?

For 2016, the NASA budget is $19.3 billion, out of $3.95 trillion in federal spending. That means the US devotes about 0.5% of its budget to all things space-related.

How much does it cost to send a gram to space?

Between 19, the cost to launch a kilogram to space remained fairly steady, with an average of US$18,500 per kilogram. When the space shuttle was in operation, it could launch a payload of 27,500 kilograms for US$1.5 billion, or $54,500 per kilogram.