NASA astronauts return SpaceX, concluding 9-month ISS stint. A spacecraft malfunction extended the duo’s initial 8-day mission to 286 days. Despite the prolonged mission, NASA’s policies offer no overtime pay — leaving the astronauts with just a $5 per day per diem.
NASA’s Pay Policy: No Overtime for Astronauts
According to NASA’s rules, astronauts on missions are treated like any other federal employee on a business trip. While transportation, meals, and lodging are covered, they receive a $5 daily allowance for “incidentals” — the same rate as domestic travel. For Williams and Wilmore, this resulted in around $1,430 in extra compensation.
Suni Williams Before and After Her Space Mission
Throughout her time in space, Suni Williams maintained a positive spirit. .She said she was grateful for the chance and called the ISS her “happy place.” But the physical cost of space travel was obvious. On the way down to Earth, astronauts often lose bone and muscle, which makes gurneys necessary when they land. Suni Williams’s pre- and post-mission photographs illustrate the physical challenges of extended space travel.
Trump’s View on Astronauts
Former President Donald Trump has often praised NASA’s achievements, although his prior comments on expanding the U.S. space program have drawn criticism. Trump frequently used NASA astronauts as examples of American leadership in space exploration. The absence of payment for their efforts, however, may rekindle debates over astronaut
A Sobering Reality for Astronauts
Even lower-paid former astronauts, such as Clayton Anderson, who spent 152 days in space in 2007, received daily pay of almost $1.20.Even though he was poor, Anderson called being an astronaut his “dream job.”
Although there is no denying the difficulties of space travel, the perseverance of astronauts like Williams and Wilmore never ceases to amaze. Discussions on astronaut support and compensation may become more prevalent as NASA moves closer to sending people to the Moon and Mars in the future.
Source: The New York Times