Are you looking for a new job? Maybe you fancy a bit of a career change? Or maybe you'd like to jump on the chance to escape the chaos of planet Earth?
Well thankfully if you think you've got what it takes then this could be the perfect job opportunity as the European Space Agency has officially announced that they are recruiting for astronauts for the first time in 11 years.
And the agency has emphasised the importance of diversity in their search for the right candidate as they encouraged more women to apply.
ESA Director General Jan Worner said Europe is going to take its place at the heart of space exploration and "to go farther than we ever have before, we need to look wider than we ever have before".
The ESA stated: "It takes years to organise a space mission and altogether hundreds of people are involved in preparing the astronauts and the spacecraft.
"Astronauts are pivotal to the success of a mission but flight opportunities are limited, so space agencies want to be sure that the astronaut selected will make the best possible use of the precious time they will spend in space."
Here's everything you need to know
When should I apply?
The recruitment process is set to begin on March 31 but the window is short to apply as the application date closes on May 28.
What experience do I need?
Experience of the space sector is not essential.
However candidates will need a master's degree (or higher) and a minimum of three years' experience in natural sciences, medicine, engineering, mathematics or computer sciences.
English is essential and good knowledge of Russian is considered an asset as it facilitates training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. Knowledge of American, Russian and Japanese culture is also an advantage.
The ESA states on its website that the preferred age range for astronauts is 27 to 37 and they must be within the height range of 153 to 190 centimeters.
Astronauts also need to be in excellent physical condition as they will have to cope with arduous training for several months before space flights.
What's the pay like?
Astronauts are paid between the A2 and A4 scales set by the Coordinated Organisations, a group of European intergovernmental groups.
While ESA’s website does not specify the salaries for astronauts beyond the grade, another Coordinated Organisation – called the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation – lists the annual A2 salary as €66,648 and the A4 salary as €95,568.
You can find more information over on the European Space Agency website here.
