NASA astronauts back on Earth—but what about their pay? For their extended stay in space

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, members of Crew-9, have safely returned to Earth after a prolonged mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), prompting questions regarding their pay during the extended stay in space.

According to a NASA spokesperson, astronauts aboard the ISS receive regular salaries for a 40-hour workweek, with no additional overtime or pay for holidays or weekends, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Thus, last year, NASA astronaut salaries were reported to exceed $152,000. 

The spokesperson clarified that astronauts’ transportation, lodging, and meals are covered while they are on official travel orders as federal employees. Additionally, they are classified as being on long-term Temporary Duty (TDY) and receive a daily incidental expense allowance of $5. For Wilmore and Williams, this equates to a total of $1,430 for their extended mission.

The astronauts' prolonged stay was due to a decision by NASA and Boeing to conduct further testing on the Starliner spacecraft. Initially set to return with the crew onboard, Starliner was instead flown back to Earth unmanned in early September for safety reasons, following issues with the spacecraft's helium leaks and thruster malfunctions during its June 2024 mission.

During their time aboard the ISS, Wilmore, Williams, and their fellow astronaut Hague contributed over 900 hours of research, advancing vital scientific and technological experiments. NASA’s acting Administrator Janet Petro expressed excitement about their return, praising the team’s contributions to space exploration.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared his thoughts on the crew’s return, admitting to feeling nervous about the potential risks but commending the SpaceX and NASA teams for their excellent work in ensuring the astronauts' safe return. Musk also thanked former President Trump for his role in expediting their return.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump looks forward to welcoming Wilmore and Williams to the Oval Office once they have had time to recover from their time in space. In an earlier interview, Trump expressed his eagerness to meet the astronauts after their recuperation.

By Aghakazim Guliyev