Ever wanted to be an astronaut but didn't know how to break into the highly competitive industry? Well, Sir Richard Branson's commercial spaceflight company, Virgin Galactic, just put out a job posting for two pilots to fly its space-bound aircraft and it's the next best thing to being a NASA astronaut.
The ambitious endeavor aims to eventually open up space for tourist travel, with seats on the Virgin-branded spaceship costing around $250,000. But while the passengers in the back will be paying through the nose for the opportunity, pilots with the "right stuff" will be getting paid to chart a new course.
While spaceflight missions are still potentially years away, the current day-to-day involves flying and assisting in the crafting of test missions for Virgin Galactic's two aircraft, SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo. The opportunity to take to space is, however, on the table as the job posting elaborates that the candidates will eventually be part of "commercial spaceflight operations," bringing passengers to the edge of space for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Taking the job would require relocation to Virgin's home base at Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, right in the middle of nowhere in the vast American Southwest, with additional opportunities to travel for missions in Mojave, California.
Take a look at the requirements of what it takes to be a Virgin Galactic pilot.
Read the original article on Business Insider