If you’ve ever thought that it would be amazing to just lay in bed all day and get paid nicely to do it, then I’ve got the opportunity for you: NASA wants to pay you to lay in bed all day, every day, for two months straight. Here’s what you need to know. (1)
NASA Wants To Pay You To Lay In Bed
In tandem with the European Space Agency, NASA has been doing what they call bed rest studies for several years. Most of these studies, which take place at The German Aerospace Center, aim to simulate what happens to the human body while under zero gravity while in space. Essentially, since zero gravity is hard to simulate, they pay you to lay in bed for two months straight under specific conditions. (1)
Though they require you to basically take a 15-week pause from your life, they do pay pretty well. It was reported that NASA paid participants $18,000 USD in 2013 and $19,000 USD in 2019 studies. (2, 3) The 2021 and 2022 studies reportedly pay at 11 thousand euros or the equivalent of about $13,000 USD. Though applications for the 2021 bed rest study are now closed, the 2022 application is still open. (1)
Do You Really Lay In Bed All Day For Two Months Straight?
Yes -when they say lay in bed all day, they mean it. Study participants don’t get up out of bed for anything – eating, showering, dressing – nothing. The participants are also placed in a bed at a six-degree head-down tilt. This causes fluids to pool in their upper body instead of the lower body, simulating what it is like in space without gravity to pull blood down to your feet. (1)
Why Does NASA Need Bed Rest Studies?
There’s not really such a thing as a quick trip into space and back. When astronauts go, they’re usually gone for a relatively long time. They spend that entire time in a weightless, zero-gravity environment. This impacts and changes the body. (1)
Without gravity weighing them down, there is less stress on the bones and muscles. This causes muscles to atrophy and bone density to decrease because they aren’t being used to the same extent. Because gravity isn’t pulling bodily fluids down to the lower extremities, fluids tend to pool more in the head. This can lead to what’s called “puffy head, bird legs” syndrome. (4) Similar effects can be seen in someone who has been on bed rest for a very long time. (1)
The bed rest studies help NASA scientists study these effects and develop more effective countermeasures. This ensures astronauts’ health and safety on future missions, particularly for long-term missions onboard the International Space Station, on the moon, or even on Mars. These studies are helping scientists figure out how humans can potentially one day live on Mars. (1)
The 2022 Study
If you’re thinking that this sounds like the right job for you, then there are a few requirements that you need to know of first. If you think you fit these requirements, then go ahead and apply! The studies are taking place at The German Aerospace Center. Below is a list of the requirements (1):
- The study is in Germany, so you’ll have to go to Germany to participate.
- German language skills required
- 153cm – 190cm tall (5ft to 6ft2)
- Time requirement: 59 days inpatient (30 days in bed rest)
- When: January 2022 to March 2022
- Follow-up Examinations: June 2022 to September 2023
- Non-smoker
- Healthy men and women between 24 and 55 years old
- BMI: 19-30kg/m₂
During the entire 59 days, you live in a single room. There are 15 days of acclimatization, 30 days of bed rest, followed by 14 days of recovery, and “astronaut rehab.” You are not allowed to receive visitors, but you can make phone calls and have video calls with friends and family. During the 30 days of bed rest, you must be lying down the entire time. Your diet is standardized and is taken care of by a team of in-house nutritionists. The meals aren’t extra healthy. However, they are measured to the exact gram you need to ensure you don’t lose weight during the study. (1)
If you are interested in participating, click here to fill out the questionnaire. It’s in German, so if that isn’t a language you speak, you may have trouble. If you’re accepted, a team from NASA will contact you after that.
Keep Reading: 50 Years Ago NASA Sent a Map Into Space to Help Aliens Find Earth—Now They’ve Got An Awesome Update
Sources
- Probandensuche
- “NASA Will Pay $18,000 To Watch You Rest In Bed–Really.” Forbes. Maseena Ziegler. September 18, 2013.
- “NASA will pay you $19,000 to stay in bed for 2 months.” USA Today. Doyle Rice. March 28, 2019.
- NASA