It’s not exactly what you’d expect after spending more than eight months in space.
You might be surprised to learn just how much two NASA astronauts are earning while being “stranded” aboard the International Space Station (ISS). A retired astronaut has revealed the truth, and it’s not as much as you might think.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams initially embarked on what was supposed to be an eight-day mission. However, that has now stretched into a staggering 251-day stay, with no immediate return in sight.
Their extended stay is due to a combination of technical issues. First, their Boeing Starliner spacecraft suffered malfunctions, leaving them stuck in space. Then, their planned return flight was delayed because of problems with the SpaceX Crew-10 C213 Dragon capsule, which was meant to facilitate the necessary crew changeover.
NASA mandates that astronauts returning from the ISS must be replaced by an incoming crew. Since no one has been sent to switch places with them, Wilmore and Williams have been left in limbo.
However, according to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, their situation is being exaggerated. Speaking with Washingtonian, McDowell stated, “The party line at NASA is that the astronauts are not stranded,” adding, “it’s way overblown.”
“They’re fine,” he said. “They just got to do an extra spacewalk, which they love. They’ll come home on the next ride.”
Even so, concerns remain over their health. Photos show the astronauts looking noticeably thinner, and reports indicate they must spend hours exercising daily to combat the physical toll of prolonged space travel.
To make matters worse, their financial compensation for this extended stay is shockingly low.
Retired astronaut Cady Coleman revealed in the same interview that astronauts don’t receive any special overtime pay. Since they are federal employees, a mission to space is treated similarly to any other business trip.
“There is some small amount of money every day for incidentals that they end up being legally obligated to pay you,” Coleman explained. However, this amount is only around $4 per day—meaning that for their entire unplanned stay so far, each astronaut has earned just $1,004 in extra pay.
While McDowell suggests that the astronauts are likely enjoying their time in space, many would expect better compensation for the sacrifices they’ve made—including having to drink purified water recycled from their own urine.
Fortunately, their wait may soon be over. A return flight is planned for mid-March, meaning they could finally be back on Earth in just a few weeks.