NASA Will Pay You $19K To Stay In Bed For 2 Months

Space agencies NASA and ESA are in a joint study to learn how artificial gravity can help to improve health issues of astronauts venturing on long term missions.

But the study's format may sound surprising. In general terms, it is like staying in bed and doing nothing yet being paid well. Sounds tempting! Yes, this is what NASA and ESA are offering people at a princely $19, 000 for a two-month task.

NASA and ESA are looking to hire volunteers for the second batch of the test that will last from September to December this year.

The agencies are in a joint study to learn the impact artificial gravity can make on astronauts when they go on long term missions. Both the agencies are jointly funding the research.

The new test is being conducted at the Germans Aerospace Center’s (DLR) facility called-envihab. During the test, volunteers will spend 60 days in bed at an incline to send blood away from their heads.

Once a day, select participants will be taken for a spin at the Center's short-arm centrifuge in order to pump blood back toward their legs. The short-arm centrifuge at DLR generates artificial gravity for participants.

Health problems of astronauts from zero gravity

Astronauts face the challenge of zero gravity or microgravity causing deterioration to bodies, muscles, and bones.

This problem is acute for astronauts living on the international space station (ISS). As a remedial action, they exercise for 2.5 hours a day and follow a strict diet regimen to maintain health.

However, as an innovative solution to the zero gravity problem, scientists are looking at artificial gravity for addressing health issues.

That is how the idea of simulated gravity emerged and a study was planned on volunteers to gather data and observe the effects for at least 60-days.

The methodology of the study

In the first phase of the study test subjects will be confined to a bed for 60 days in Germany.

In the first phase, 12 persons—8 men and four women will join the study. For 60 days, they will lay in bed with another 29 days earmarked for their recovery back to normal life.

The hiring scientists are promising a great experience who can endure two months of the idle state.

The payment at 16,500 euros (nearly $19,000) is lucrative. But lying down on a surface with the tedium of being in a room for 60 days and another 30 days for recovery can evoke some discomfiture if not psychological challenges.