A former astronaut has shared the surprising payout that NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams could receive following their prolonged mission in space.
Wilmore and Williams initially set out last June for what was meant to be an eight-day test flight aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
However, due to persistent technical setbacks, the mission stretched into an unexpected 286-day stay in orbit before they finally returned to Earth on Tuesday (March 19) night aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
With their return, the astronauts now rank as the sixth longest-serving NASA crew members for a single mission, spending nearly 285 days in space.
Their time just falls short of Peggy Whitson’s 289-day record, while Frank Rubio remains the longest-serving NASA astronaut with 371 days in space, according to The New York Post.
Despite the 278 extra days beyond their planned itinerary, the financial compensation for Wilmore and Williams's prolonged mission may be far less than one might expect.
According to former astronaut Cady Coleman, NASA astronauts receive incidental pay, similar to federal workers on a business trip.
Coleman revealed to The Washingtonian that she earned about $4 per day during her own 2010 mission.
Though the exact rate for astronauts in space today is unclear, the federal travel allowance currently sits at $178 per day - which could significantly impact their compensation, per The New York Post.
Coleman explained that the small daily stipend is a legal obligation meant to cover incidentals like food and lodging.
Based on her experience of earning $636 during a 159-day mission, Wilmore and Williams might receive approximately $1,148 each for their unplanned stay. However, if NASA applies the full $178 daily travel rate, that number jumps to over $51,000 per astronaut.
Wilmore and Williams are classified under the GS-15 pay scale, which places their annual salaries between $125,000 and $163,000.
While other astronauts have spent longer durations in space, none have faced as much uncertainty or an unexpectedly extended mission quite like this.
Their dramatic return to Earth was met with cheers and relief, as they emerged from their capsule in the Gulf of Mexico, smiling and waving before being assisted into reclining stretchers for routine medical checks.
Now back on solid ground, they will spend weeks in physical therapy to regain strength and mobility after months without Earth's gravity.
NASA will reportedly enforce a strict rehabilitation program for returning astronauts, which includes: gradual walking reintroduction and starting with soft surfaces, strength training, and cardiovascular exercises to rebuild muscle and bone density.
They will also undergo balance training to restore coordination and psychological support to help astronauts adjust mentally.