European Space Agency is paying people $5,300 to lie down in bed for 10 days but there’s one catch

While remote work has become increasingly popular since the pandemic, you’re probably less familiar with working from a bathtub for ten days, right? Well, the European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for people who can do just that in this new experiment.

It's called Vivaldi III, and as the name suggests, it is the third edition of similar experiments that aim to recreate some of the effects of how spaceflight affects the human body. The study is being hosted at the Medes Space Clinic at Toulouse University Hospital in France.

But what exactly is involved in this Vivaldi III experiment?

Well, not much, to be honest.

"During Vivaldi III, 10 volunteers lie down in containers similar to bathtubs covered with a waterproof fabric. This keeps them dry and evenly suspended in water," ESA explained.

There's more than meets the eye with this job (European Space Agency)

The agency continued: "Submerged to above the torso and keeping arms and head above water, participants experience a sensation of floating without physical support - something close to what astronauts feel while on the International Space Station."

But while this pretty much sounds like a walk in the park, there is one downside to it that you should be aware of - and you might have thought of it already.

If you're lying down for 10 days, how exactly do you go to the bathroom?

Well, the ESA offered some insight into that particular task, saying: "For bathroom breaks, participants are temporarily transferred onto a trolley, maintaining their laid-back position at all times."

I guess there's a first time for everything?

For the experiment, participants will be hospitalized for a total of 21 days. The good thing is that throughout these days, while you may be alone, you are allowed to have some contact with the outside world via your phone.

"You can contact [your loved ones] as much as you like (as long as it fits into your schedule)," Medes explained in its FAQs.

"You can make phone or video calls. However, you will not be able to receive visitors."

You could get paid $5,300 for working from a tub of water (European Space Agency)

"Even though the actual bed rest or dry immersion only lasts 10 days, your presence is required at the MEDES Clinic for 21 days (+2 days of follow-up)," Medes added.

"The pre- and post-bed rest/immersion periods are part of the study in the same way as the bed rest or immersion period.

'"You will be required to remain in the space clinic throughout this hospitalization, with the exception of certain tests performed at the Toulouse University Hospital in specialized departments."

So how much are volunteers compensated for this job? Well, participants are rewarded a whopping $5,300 for their involvement in the experiment.

Not bad, right? If you're willing to go to the bathroom lying down, that is.