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NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to return to Earth after almost nine months at the International Space Station (ISS). They have been stationed there since June 2023, following issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft's propulsion system during its inaugural crewed mission. A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft has now arrived at the ISS to transport them back, along with an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut.
Meanwhile, according to reports, NASA will not pay the two astronauts for their overtime at the space station.
Former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman told a website that astronauts receive their standard salary without overtime benefits. NASA provides for their essential needs and allocates a modest daily allowance for incidentals. "There is some small amount of money per day for incidentals that they end up being legally obligated to pay you," Coleman stated. "For me, it was around $4 a day."
Based on Coleman's 159-day mission in 2010-11, which earned her about $636 in additional pay, Williams and Wilmore are expected to receive approximately $1,148 each for their 287-day mission.
As GS-15 ranked employees, the highest tier in the US General Pay Schedule, Williams and Wilmore's base salary ranges from $1,25,133 to $1,62,672. Their prorated earnings during the nine-month extension amount to between $93,850 and $122,004. Including the incidental allowance, their total mission earnings are estimated at $94,998 to $1,23,152.
NASA has confirmed their return schedule for March 18 evening (GMT). Weather permitting, the SpaceX capsule carrying Wilmore, Williams and two other astronauts will undock from the space station early Tuesday and splash down off Florida's coast later that evening. The splashdown is planned for 5:57 pm Tuesday, Florida time, earlier than initially planned. Live coverage will commence with Dragon spacecraft hatch closure preparations at 10:45 pm EDT Monday, March 17.
Wilmore and Williams expected to be gone just a week when they launched on Boeing's first astronaut flight. They hit the nine-month mark earlier this month.
Meanwhile, according to reports, NASA will not pay the two astronauts for their overtime at the space station.
Former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman told a website that astronauts receive their standard salary without overtime benefits. NASA provides for their essential needs and allocates a modest daily allowance for incidentals. "There is some small amount of money per day for incidentals that they end up being legally obligated to pay you," Coleman stated. "For me, it was around $4 a day."
Based on Coleman's 159-day mission in 2010-11, which earned her about $636 in additional pay, Williams and Wilmore are expected to receive approximately $1,148 each for their 287-day mission.
As GS-15 ranked employees, the highest tier in the US General Pay Schedule, Williams and Wilmore's base salary ranges from $1,25,133 to $1,62,672. Their prorated earnings during the nine-month extension amount to between $93,850 and $122,004. Including the incidental allowance, their total mission earnings are estimated at $94,998 to $1,23,152.
NASA has confirmed their return schedule for March 18 evening (GMT). Weather permitting, the SpaceX capsule carrying Wilmore, Williams and two other astronauts will undock from the space station early Tuesday and splash down off Florida's coast later that evening. The splashdown is planned for 5:57 pm Tuesday, Florida time, earlier than initially planned. Live coverage will commence with Dragon spacecraft hatch closure preparations at 10:45 pm EDT Monday, March 17.
Wilmore and Williams expected to be gone just a week when they launched on Boeing's first astronaut flight. They hit the nine-month mark earlier this month.
