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NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally set to return to Earth after an extended nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The two astronauts, who initially planned to stay for just a week, ended up spending nearly 287 days in space due to propulsion issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was deemed unfit for their return journey.
On Sunday, a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule arrived at the ISS to transport Williams, Wilmore, another American astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut back to Earth. NASA has confirmed their scheduled return for Tuesday, March 18, with an anticipated splashdown off the Florida coast at approximately 5:57 PM (Florida time) or 3:27 AM IST on March 19. The agency will provide live coverage of their return from the ISS, beginning with Dragon hatch closure preparations at 10:45 PM EDT on March 17 (8:30 AM IST on March 18). More details can be found on NASA’s official website.
As Williams and Wilmore spent months beyond their planned mission duration, the question arises whether they will receive additional pay for their extended stay in space. However, according to former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, astronauts receive their regular salary with no overtime pay. NASA covers their transportation, lodging, and food expenses, along with a small 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,” Washingtonian.com quoted Coleman. “For me, it was around $4 a day,” Sunita Williams said.
During her 159-day mission in 2010-11, Coleman received approximately $636 (over ₹55,000) in additional pay. Using the same calculation, Williams and Wilmore—having spent over 287 days in space—would receive at least $1,148 (approximately ₹1 lakh) each in extra compensation.
According to generalschedule.org, both astronauts fall under the GS-15 pay grade, the highest level in the U.S. General Schedule (GS) classification for government employees. Their annual base salary ranges from $125,133 to $162,672 (approximately ₹1.08 crore to ₹1.41 crore), depending on their General Schedule Step. When prorated for their extended nine-month stay aboard the ISS, their earnings fall between $93,850 and $122,004 (₹81 lakh to ₹1.05 crore).
With the addition of $1,148 (around ₹1 lakh) in incidental pay, their total earnings for the mission are estimated to be between $94,998 and $123,152 (₹82 lakh to ₹1.06 crore). However, this estimate does not account for any potential increases in NASA’s daily allowance since 2011. Inflation or other factors may have led to adjustments in the incidental pay amount, meaning the actual compensation could vary.
NASA’s priority remains ensuring the safe return of Williams and Wilmore after their unexpectedly prolonged mission. More updates on their return can be followed on NASA’s website.
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