How to become a professional sleeper for NASA?

Sleep is serious business for space agencies. NASA and other research organizations pay up to $18,000 per month for sleep study participants—but landing these gigs isn’t as easy as just dozing off. Here’s the step-by-step guide to turning your snooze into cash.

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Step 1: Understand the Job

NASA sleep studies typically involve:

• Isolation experiments (simulating long space missions)

• Zero-gravity sleep (bed tilted at 6° to mimic space)

• Circadian rhythm disruption (testing sleep in abnormal light cycles)

• Drug trials (sleep aids for astronauts)

Pay Range: $5,000–$18,000 for 2–3 months of participation.

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Step 2: Meet the Requirements

Most studies look for:
✅ Age 25–55 (prime sleep stability)
✅ Non-smokers (nicotine disrupts sleep)
✅ No chronic illnesses (especially sleep apnea)
✅ Flexible schedule (studies can last 30–90 days)
✅ Willingness to be monitored 24/7 (cameras, EEGs, blood draws)

Pro Tip: Some studies prefer people who snore (for sleep apnea research).

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Step 3: Find Open Studies

1. NASA’s Bed Rest Studies

   • NASA’s Human Research Program

   • Conducted at Johnson Space Center (Houston)

   • Pays $1,500–$5,000 per week

2. European Space Agency (ESA) Studies

   • Based in Cologne, Germany

   • Longer isolation experiments (up to 60 days)

3. Private Sleep Clinics

• Universities like Harvard and Stanford run paid sleep studies

• Check ClinicalTrials.gov for openings.

Step 4: Apply & Pass Screening

• Initial application (basic health questionnaire)

• In-person screening (blood tests, psychological exams)

• Mock trial (spend a night in the lab to test compliance)

Warning: Some studies disqualify you if you sleep too well—they need subjects with mild insomnia!

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Step 5: Survive the Study

• No caffeine, alcohol, or outside contact (for weeks)

• Strict sleep/wake cycles (lights out at exact times)

• Boredom is your enemy (no phones, just books & approved media)

Fun Fact: NASA’s “Artificial Gravity” studies involve sleeping in a rotating room!

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How to Maximize Earnings

• Sign up for back-to-back studies (some pros earn $100K/year)

• Join private sector trials (e.g., mattress companies pay $3K for 3 nights)

• Become a “control sleeper” (baseline data for space research)