Nasa is recruiting² volunteers to lie a bed for 70 days to research the effects of microgravity on the human body.

 

And the study, which is on-going, will give you around $5,000 a month for the pleasure.

 

The study takes place at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston where you stay for two weeks, doing every day activities, so that scientists can monitor your body in normal conditions.

 

You then spend 70 days in a tilted³（倾斜的） bed where you will have light for 16 hours per day and darkness for eight hours per day.

 

Access to computer games, TV, books, the internet and visitors is permitted, and all food is provided to keep you at a constant weight.

 

You can even get a shower while you're in bed.

 

The only time you can move is when scientists carry out tests to find out any changes in bone, muscle, circulation⁴, nutrition and the immune⁵ system.

 

Or as part of the newly-introduced exercise called the 'countermeasure and function testing' study, that will monitor how different movements can effect muscle size and strength, bone health, and cardiovascular function.

 

Even then you will be lying in bed and will exercise on specially-designed equipment.

 

Following 70 days, there is a 14-day rehabilitation⁶ period to get your body back into shape.

 

If all this sounds like your dream come true, applications can be made here.

 

Self-described 'pillownaut' Heather Archuletta has taken part in the study three times.

 

'I'm a very active person, so it's difficult to be restricted to bed sometimes, but many of us are willing to do it for the sake of future space exploration,' she wrote on her blog.

 

'The... money... is... pretty freaking awesome⁷, however. About $5,000 per month, which is great if you've just graduated, can't find a job, are between jobs, or just plain love space exploration,' added Ms Archuletta.

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