Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have successfully returned from the ISS under NASA and Boeing's Starliner mission. Despite their intense efforts and the perilous nature of their mission, overtime pay is not on the agenda. Astonishingly, after spending 278 extra days in space, they've been denied any overtime compensation. The New York Times reports that according to NASA's terms, they receive a mere $5 a day as an allowance.
Initially, Williams and Wilmore had an eight-day mission but returned to Earth after 286 days due to technical issues with their spacecraft. NASA spokesperson Jimmy Russell confirmed that astronauts are considered government employees and their mission is treated as an official duty. NASA astronauts, being government staff, receive fixed salaries regardless of being on Earth or in space.
Only $5 Per Day
NASA regulations state that astronauts receive travel, food, and accommodation benefits without overtime, holiday, or weekend pay. They only receive a $5 daily incidental allowance for minor expenses. Given this, Williams and Wilmore's 286-day stay garnered them approximately $1,430.
The nature and cause of these 'incidental expenses' while being 250 miles above the Earth remain unclear. This allowance typically caters to gratuities and service fees like those for porters and hotel staff.
In September, Sunita Williams quipped, "Space is my happy place. I love being there; it's simply fun."
Meager Allowance in the Past
If a $5 daily allowance seems paltry, spare a thought for astronaut Clayton Anderson. In 2007, while in space for 152 days, he received only $1.20 a day, totaling $172 overall. Anderson, expressing gratitude, remarked on social media in 2022, "Government job, government pay. But it was the job of my dreams pursued for passion, not pay."
The mission extended to 286 days due to unforeseen spacecraft issues, demonstrating adaptability and resilience in crisis.
Initial expectations for an eight-day mission were challenged by unexpected technical hurdles.
