NASA Is Seeking Volunteers In Southwest Florida To Live In Its Mars Simulation

If you've ever wanted to go to Mars without leaving Earth, NASA is seeking volunteers in Southwest Florida to live in its Mars simulation.

I remember years ago, applications were open for Mars One, a small organization wanting to send people to Mars. When I heard about it, I remember thinking that I had a few family members I wouldn't mind sending up there. It all sounded interesting until it was learned that if you went up there, you would be up there for good. The whole point was to establish a permanent human colony. So that means those who volunteered would be leaving literally everything behind forever. I'm sure there were plenty of people interested that would be up for the task in the name of science. But I'm not sure a regular person would be quite as willing. That organization went bankrupt in 2019, so a simulation seems to be the next best thing. And while it's still a commitment, it's a much shorter one than for life.

NASA put out the call last week looking for volunteers for a 1-year Mars simulation. It's called the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog or CHAPEA 2. And the best part is that you won't have to leave Earth. A crew of 4 will live and work in a 1700 square-foot 3D-printed version of Mars, but located in Houston, TX. Life in the simulation will be about as close to what it would be like on the red planet if you were actually there. But it won't be a life of luxury. Based on everything we've seen about Mars, it appears to be an extremely harsh environment with limited resources.

This will be the second mission of its kind. There is a crew about halfway through the first right now. CHAPEA 2 begins in Spring 2025. And while participants are called volunteers, it is a paid position, though NASA hasn't said, as of yet, what they pay will be.

As you can imagine, this isn't a task for just anyone. The requirements for applicants are pretty intense. You must be a US citizen between 30-55 years old. Speak fluent English and have a master's degree in a STEM field PLUS a minimum of 2 years experience. You must also have at least 1000 hours of piloting an aircraft or 2 years of work toward a STEM doctoral program.

If you or someone you know might be interested, you can find an application here

The traditional bachelor's degree just isn't for everyone. In fact, there are a big group of people who opt to skip the traditional college route and still make very good money. There are plenty of jobs out there that don't requite a four-year bachelor's degree but still make $100K or more per year. No, it's not too good to be true. Let's get into some of these high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Before we get into those high-paying jobs, let's talk about how to land your dream job. Indeed.com has a great checklist of things to do when you're on the job hunt. One major thing is to create a good resume. They suggest to tailor that resume to every job to which you're applying, so that it fits the job perfectly. Make one "master" copy of your resume, and then use that as a template to create special resumes for each of the jobs for which you're applying. So, how do you tailer for resume? "When deciding what to include in your resume, choose actionable items that would capture an employer's interest," they suggest. "Along with including qualitative results in your work experience section, you can also add in some quantifiable data." They also say that numbers and statistics and numbers look good on a resume, so include those.

FlexJobs.com suggests to "research companies, rather than jobs." They say to "pursue companies that mirror your values to narrow your search, and to, "seek out organizations with a strong culture fit and a mission that aligns with yours." That's a great tip so that you're finding a company with the same values and ethics that you possess. Of course, it doesn't hurt to look for actual jobs on search sites such as FlexJobs.com and Indeed.com, too. Keep an eye out for opening at your desired company that pop up.

Now, let's get into some high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Careerkarma.com has Technology Sales Manager listed as the job without a college degree that makes the most money. Average salary is $161,920. Sound good, right? Minimum job requirements are, "Experience as a sales representative and a high-school diploma."

Another high-paying job without a degree, according to Careerkarma.com, is a Computer and Information Systems Manager. They make an average of $159,010 a year. You need computer science knowledge and 5 to 10 years of management experience, they state.

Here's an interesting one. A fire chief is on Indeed's list of high-paying jobs without a degree. They state, "Fire chiefs are responsible for overseeing and managing fire departments, which involves supervising personnel, developing budgets and planning emergency responses." National average salary is $105,287 per year.

Another job on Indeed list of high-paying jobs without a degree is Product Manager. So, what is that? "They may develop and implement the large and small business strategies that fuel the product development process and manage the launch of the product's features," they explain.

This is a really interesting one: Professional Sports Referee. The top salary per year is $210,000. But, they can make as little as $21,000 per year, too, as that's the average salary. So, you have to get a bigger gig to make more than 100K for this job. This is according to Resumeviking.com. They state, "No academic background is necessary, apart from obtaining a referee certification in the sport you want to referee. The stakes are high, but so is the return if you have the nerves for putting it all out there with no guarantees of ever gaining enough recognition to join in on this multi-billion-dollar industry!"

The national salary for a Senior Real Estate Manager is $133,076 per year," according to Indeed. They state, "Senior real estate managers oversee the daily operations of a property like an apartment complex or commercial building. They typically manage maintenance teams, ensure tenants pay rent on time and fill vacancies." They suggest to "gain experience in entry-level positions and work your way up to this job."

A Court Reporter makes an average salary of $103,270, according to Careerkarma.com. The job is to take notes on legal proceedings in court. "To land a court reporter job with no degree, you’ll need to take the exam for Registered Professional Reporter certification," they note. "This requires good listening skills, the ability to type quickly, and some knowledge of common legal terms."

Executive Assistant is No. 1 on US News and World Report's list of the highest-paying jobs without a degree. "Executive assistants support high-level executives in public offices and private companies," they state. "They may manage the executive’s schedule, make travel arrangements, prioritize the executive’s emails, and sometimes act as a receptionist or gatekeeper, serving as the liaison between the executive and anyone who wishes to meet with them."