Woman severely 'humbled' after realizing requirements for social media position at NASA
We all had big dreams of what we wanted to be when we grew up, and whether it be a teacher, doctor, or vet, some dreamed even bigger as they conjured up future career paths as Hollywood actors, professional athletes, or even soaring among the stars as an astronaut.
NASA is looking to make those childhood dreams come true for a new crop of recruits, officially reopening its books for the ongoing Artemis program. The agency is looking to finally put man back on the lunar surface for the first time since 1972 in 2028, but looking even further ahead, America's promise to never leave the Moon behind means we're going to need a lot more astronauts.
We recently covered what it takes to apply to become a NASA astronaut, and while it sounds like a gruelling ordeal that most of us wouldn't get past the first step of, TikTok user fancypantsnancy fancies her chances.
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Back in April 2026, fancypantsnancy explained how she loves space and 'geeked out' about Artemis II's historic flyby to the dark side of the Moon.
With her heartwarming story, the OP said: "It reminds me that one time I applied to NASA because I love space so much, and I want to be involved in it in any way that I can."
The problem is that while NASA demands you have an advanced STEM or medical degree, fanypantsnancy's expertise as a filmmaker counted her out of being an astronaut.
Still, she was optimistic about a social media position she spotted online, adding: "I could do that, I can make social media content."
Saying she was 'humbled' by the application, she says there was a section for special skills that mentioned the likes of astrophysics and rocket science. Being brutally honest with her viewers, she said that she simply had to write 'team player' but reiterated she loves space.
Fancypantsnancy doesn't reveal whether she ever heard back from NASA, but given that she currently doesn't have a social media position at the agency, it looks like she sadly didn't progress.
Of course, being a NASA astronaut isn't just about your qualifications, with wannabe spacefarers also needing three years of related professional experience or qualifying flight hours, as well as passing the agency's long-duration spaceflight physical.
Even if you've got the brains, there's a gruelling physical that involves certain vision, height, and blood pressure requirements, alongside strict bone mineral density retention targets and a functional fitness test. In their training, they're expected to swim three lengths of a pool while wearing a flight suit and tennis shoes, then tread water for 10 minutes.
For those lucky few who make it through training, there's the benefit of a pretty reasonable $164,395 salary. Still, you have to think about whether you'd actually see your loved ones again as you're tasked with helping build a permanent Moon Base for the USA.
While your average TikTok creator likely won't make the cut, there are plenty out there who have the qualifications to join the other 32 currently active astronauts.
Applications were last open in 2024, and out of more than 8,000 applicants, 10 were selected in 2025 and are in the midst of nearly two years of training. If you think you've got what it takes to be the next Suni Williams (hopefully without getting stranded in space), you've got until December 3 to apply.
