NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have successfully returned to Earth after an unexpectedly long nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Originally planned as a short one-week mission, their return was repeatedly delayed due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Instead, they finally splashed down in the ocean aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, marking the end of their prolonged journey.
Extended Stay and NASA’s Compensation Policy
Despite spending 287 days in space, Williams and Wilmore will not receive traditional overtime pay for their extended mission. NASA follows a structured salary system, and astronauts do not receive additional hourly wages for extra time in space. However, they are eligible for a small daily allowance to cover incidentals.
Former astronaut Cady Coleman, who spent 159 days in space, previously shared with Washingtonian magazine that she was entitled to approximately $4 per day for incidentals. Based on this, Williams and Wilmore are estimated to receive around $1,148 each for their 287-day mission.
NASA Astronaut Salaries: What They Earn
Both Williams and Wilmore hold GS-15 rankings, which is the highest tier in the U.S. General Pay Schedule (GS) for federal employees. Their base salaries range between $125,133 and $162,672 per year. Given their prolonged mission, their additional earnings for the extra nine months in space are projected to be between $93,850 and $122,004.
Total Estimated Earnings for the Mission
With both their regular salaries and incidental allowances, their total estimated compensation for this mission falls between $94,998 and $123,152.
Safe Return Marks the End of a Historic Mission
NASA confirmed that Williams and Wilmore successfully landed back on Earth, finally concluding a mission that was originally meant to last just one week. Their extended stay marks a significant chapter in space history, particularly as the first-ever crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner.
