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Astronauts are skilled professionals who travel outer space to discover, design, examine, engineer, and develop new concepts. They have to undergo rigorous training for a period of 2 years in order to become an astronaut. When they are not in space, astronauts perform several other duties on ground such as assisting scientists, continuous monitoring, carrying out repairs of the aircraft, and helping in developing satellites.
In order to become an astronaut, aspiring candidates must pursue Undergraduate as well as Postgraduate Astrophysics Courses, Aeronautical Engineering Courses or Astronomy Courses such as B.Sc in Astrophysics or B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering and M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering. Astronauts are stratified on the basis of the work they are in charge of, such as Pilot / Flight Commander, Mission Specialist and Payload Specialist.
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There are many top Aeronautical Engineering Colleges in India such as IIT Kanpur, IIST Thiruvananthapuram being the top most choices. Admissions to these colleges are done on the basis of various Engineering Entrance Exams such as JEE Main, JEE Advanced etc.
The average annual salary of an astronaut in India is around INR 7.10 LPA. Some of the top recruiters for astronauts are HAL, ISRO, DRDO, NATO etc. Even foreign agencies such as NASA and Russian Space Center give chances to students from India who have outstanding academic records and possess requisite skills. They offer an average salary package of around INR 77.54 L- 98.12 L annually.
Table of Content
- Average Salary of an Astronaut
- Salary of an Astronaut: Organization Wise
- Salary of an Astronaut: Experience Wise
- Salary of an Astronaut: Designation Wise
- Salary of an Astronaut: Country Wise
- What do Astronauts do
- Qualifications to Become an Astronaut
- Top Recruiters for Astronauts
- Salary of an Astronaut: FAQs
Average Salary of an Astronaut
The average salary of an astronaut in India is around INR 12.20 L - 17.96 LPA. According to Glassdoor, the average monthly salary of an astronaut is INR 2,07,558 while the lowest monthly salary of an astronaut is approximately INR 1,01,300.
ISRO offers a salary package of around INR 16 L - 35 L annually to astronauts. But with gradual experience, candidates can earn around INR 46.24 L - 78.20 LPA. NASA also hires some brilliant candidates from India to work with them and they can earn up to INR 1.03 crores per year. Read More: Job Profile Wise Salary
Salary of an Astronaut: Organization Wise
The average salary of an Astronaut on the basis of the companies that they are working in,
| Name of the Company | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) | 15.61 L |
| HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) | 13.83 L |
| DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) | 29.12 L |
| NASA | 77.20 L |
Salary of an Astronaut: Experience Wise
Tabulated below is the average salary of an Astronaut on the basis of experience gained over the years
| Years of Experience | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| 0 - 5 years | 12.39 L |
| 6 - 10 years | 27.36 L |
| 11 - 15 years | 42.70 L |
| 16 - 20 years | 59.05 L |
| 20 years & above | 62 L |
Salary of an Astronaut: Designation Wise
The astronauts get an average per month salary of around INR 56,000- 1.06 L. The salary of an astronaut is dependent on the designation on which he is appointed. The salary of an astronaut on the basis of designation is as follows:
| Job Profile | Average Salary Package (INR) |
|---|---|
| Scientist/ Engineer- SD | 4.69 L |
| Scientist/ Engineer- SE | 5.12 L |
| Scientist/ Engineer- SF | 5.48 L |
| Scientist/ Engineer- SG | 6.01 L |
| Scientist/ Engineer- H | 6.81 L |
| Outstanding Scientist | 9.48 L |
| Distinguished Scientist | 10.60 L |
Salary of an Astronaut: Country Wise
The following table discusses the average salary of an Astronaut across various countries,
| Name of the Countries | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Russia | 51.43 L |
| USA | 50.82 L |
| Canada | 50.67 L |
| Europe | 37.70 L |
| China | 41.29 L |
What do Astronauts do
The major duties of an Astronaut are as follows:
- They conduct experiments in space
- They gather information and develop new concepts to design and engineer the vehicle.
- They explore and research on moon to analyze the future phenomenon
- They study space , planets, stars and galaxies.
Qualifications to become an Astronaut
The major qualifications as well as eligibility criteria required to become an Astronaut in India are as follows:
- The candidate must be a citizen of India
- The candidate must have a bachelor's degree in engineering, Physics, Computer science or mathematics.
- Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or above stated subjects can be an added advantage.
- The candidate must meet the fitness requirements as specified
- Must be fluent in English
Top Recruiters for Astronauts
The major recruiting companies for astronauts is tabulated below:
| ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) | DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) | HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) |
| NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) | NAL (National Aeronautical Laboratories) | Space X |
Salary of an Astronaut: FAQs
Ques. How many years does it take to become an Astronaut?
Ans. It’s not less than 10 years. To become an Astronaut, the candidate must do a graduation and postgraduation course which will take around 6 years. In addition to that the candidate must undergo 2 years training and 2 years of professional experience.
Ques. Is PCM mandatory to become an astronaut?
Ans. Yes, to become an astronaut the candidate must have completed 10+2 from a recognized institute with Physics, chemistry and Mathematics, Computer Science.
Ques. Is there any gender requirement to become an astronaut?
Ans. No, there is no gender requirement. Candidates either male or female can become an astronaut.
Ques. What courses should I pursue to become an astronaut?
Ans. There are several courses that a candidate can pursue to become an astronaut:
- B.Sc in Astrophysics
- B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering
- M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering
Ques.What are the various types of astronaut?
Ans. There are various types of astronauts:
- Flight engineer
- Commander
- Pilot
- Mission Engineer
- Payload officer
Ques. What is the lowest salary offered to an astronaut?
Ans. According to Glassdoor, the lowest offered to an astronaut is around INR 1.01 L per month.
Ques. Is being an astronaut difficult?
Ans. Yes, being an astronaut is a difficult job. There will be several extreme conditions that a candidate has to process. From difficult training to surviving in space, every bit of being an astronaut is tough.
Ques.Which are the top colleges to become an astronaut?
Ans. The top colleges are as follows:
- IIST (Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology)
- IIRS (Indian Institute of Remote Sensing)
- Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
- IIT(Indian Institute of Technology)
Ques. What are the skills required to become an astronaut?
Ans. For being an astronaut, the candidate must possess the following set of skills:
- Adaptability
- Mental endurance
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
- Discipline
Ques. What is the average salary of a scientist in ISRO?
Ans. According to Indeed, the average base salary of a Scientist in ISRO is INR 4.86 LPA. There are several other benefits that scientists get in addition to their base salary.