Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A small bet on herself turned a Nasa engineer’s bedroom closet into a six-figure business. What began as a modest attempt to make an extra USD 200 (around Rs 19,000) a month has grown into a voice-over operation bringing in more than USD 32,000 (over Rs 30 lakh) every month, all while she continues working full-time at Nasa.
From Nasa’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to a recording booth at home, Eryn Andrews divides her time between two very different worlds, according to CNBC Make It. At 41, she works on astronaut performance while also pursuing voice-over projects from her guest-bedroom closet.
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FROM A USD 200 GOAL TO A SIX-FIGURE BUSINESS
Andrews began the side hustle in March 2022 after becoming a single mother. Her original goal was simple: make an extra USD 200 a month to afford small outings and activities with her daughter.
After searching for side-hustle opportunities, she discovered voice-over work. She spent about USD 200 on a training course, a microphone and basic recording equipment before creating a profile on Fiverr.
With no professional voice-over experience, Andrews initially accepted lower-paying assignments to build her portfolio and credibility. The strategy worked. She landed several projects in her first month and generated roughly USD 1,000 in revenue.
HER ‘5-TO-9’ LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT FROM NASA
At her full-time job, Andrews divides her time between a cubicle, a laboratory and a “lunar sandbox” testing facility at Johnson Space Center. Her work involves collecting and analysing data to help astronauts move more effectively while wearing spacesuits.
Her work after hours is very different.
Andrews records voiceovers from a makeshift studio inside a guest bedroom closet, using mattress toppers to help block outside noise. She now spends between one and eight hours a week recording projects, primarily internal corporate announcements, company voicemail systems and workplace training videos.
Her clients have included major organisations and brands such as Coca-Cola, PetSmart and the University of Mississippi.
SIDE HUSTLE OVERTAKES HER NASA SALARY
The small business eventually grew far beyond Andrews’ original expectations. According to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It, she had already earned more than USD 227,000 from voiceover work in 2026.
Andrews says her voice-over income began surpassing her six-figure NASA salary during the summer of 2025. Despite the extraordinary growth, she has continued working at NASA while running the business on the side.
EXTRA INCOME BRINGS FINANCIAL FREEDOM
The additional earnings have changed more than just Andrews’ monthly income. She has used the money to fund travel, purchase a used Toyota RAV4 and build a college savings fund for her daughter.
The business has also given her something she did not originally expect from a side hustle: greater financial flexibility and peace of mind.
Rather than leaving her NASA career behind, Andrews has managed to build a second income stream alongside it, devoting only a handful of hours each week to voice-over work.
FROM BEDROOM CLOSET TO MAJOR BRANDS
Andrews’ side hustle grew from a USD 200 investment into a business earning hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, with clients including major brands and universities.
What started as a way to fund small activities with her daughter has since given Andrews greater financial freedom and peace of mind. She says the success has left her feeling more relaxed than ever in her adult life.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
