Being an astronaut is a dream job among children - but does NASA actually pay much more than earthbound public sector jobs? The reality is surprising, given the muscle wastage that's part of the job You don't become an astronaut for the money. (Image: Getty Images)

Becoming an astronaut is the dream job of a tenth of British children, and the majority of kids in China. ‌

It’s not for the paycheque – but if you’ve ever wondered how much it pays , one retired NASA astronaut revealed the surprising truth in three words. ‌

“Not a lot”, Nicole Stott replied, when asked by the LAD Bible during a Q&A. It is, after all, a public sector job. ‌

“Government civil service. You don’t become an astronaut to get paid a lot of money.”

According to NASA, the annual salary for ast

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