How Much Money Will Astronauts Who Are Stranded in Space for 9 Months Receive?

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams recently made history with an extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). After a nine-month mission in space, these astronauts, along with fellow NASA astronaut Nick Hauge and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, made their return to Earth. 

The crew landed safely aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in the Gulf of Mexico near Tallahassee, Florida, after a long and unexpected journey that pushed their stay far beyond the original schedule.

When the Crew-9 team arrived at the ISS in June of the previous year, their mission was initially slated to last only one week. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, they ended up spending a full nine months orbiting the Earth.

This extended mission raised several questions, not only about their physical and emotional resilience but also about their compensation. How much do astronauts earn for their time in space, and is there any additional pay for an extended mission?

The mission of Crew-9 was not only long but also complex. Originally, astronauts Wilmore and Williams were supposed to spend a relatively short duration on the ISS—roughly one week. Their arrival aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June 2024 was expected to be part of a mission that would test the capabilities of the Starliner.

However, complications arose when the Starliner experienced serious issues, such as helium leaks and problems with its reaction control thrusters. As a result, NASA and Boeing decided to delay the return of the spacecraft, making the astronauts' stay on the ISS much longer than expected.

In response to this delay, NASA also had to adjust its plans and send a new crew to replace Crew-9. Over the weekend, a new group of astronauts arrived on the ISS, ready to take over the duties of the departing astronauts.

This is a routine part of maintaining continuous human presence on the ISS, which has been operating since 2000. The mission's extension, however, raised the question of how much the astronauts are paid during their time in space.

NASA astronauts do not receive special compensation for the unusual and extreme nature of their work in space. According to a spokesperson from NASA, astronauts receive their regular salaries while stationed on the ISS.

They work a standard 40-hour workweek while in orbit, with no overtime, holiday, or weekend pay. This is the same arrangement they would have if they were working in any other federal government capacity on Earth.

The average salary for a NASA astronaut is over $152,000 per year, based on 2024 information available on the NASA website. However, this amount can vary depending on the astronaut’s rank, experience, and years of service. For example, more senior astronauts with additional experience may earn higher salaries within the overall pay range for NASA personnel.

Despite their mission being physically demanding and far from routine, astronauts do not receive additional compensation for the exceptional risks and challenges they face in space. NASA views their time aboard the ISS as part of their regular duties, which are undertaken as part of their responsibilities as federal employees.

While astronauts like Wilmore and Williams do not receive overtime or extra pay for their extended stay, they do receive a small allowance for incidental expenses. According to NASA's guidelines, astronauts receive $5 per day to cover the incidental expenses of their time in space.

These expenses are similar to those that government employees may claim during a temporary assignment away from their usual workplace on Earth.

For Wilmore and Williams, who spent 286 days on the ISS, the incidental allowance would amount to $1,430 each. While this amount might seem modest in comparison to the physical and mental demands of living and working in space, it is part of the federal government’s broader system for managing travel expenses for employees on official assignments.

The $5 per day incidental allowance is intended to cover minor costs that astronauts may incur during their mission. These can include things like additional supplies they might need for personal use, although their basic living needs—such as food, lodging, and transportation—are covered by NASA and the space program.

The fact that astronauts receive such allowances reflects the unique nature of their work but also emphasizes the fact that they are still considered federal employees and subject to government regulations governing pay and compensation.

For Wilmore and Williams, the extended stay on the ISS had a significant impact on both their physical well-being and their career trajectories. The extended mission was primarily caused by the ongoing testing and development of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which faced several technical issues during its mission. NASA had to prioritize safety, both for the astronauts and the spacecraft, which led to their continued stay in space.

However, as they completed this extended mission, the astronauts’ experience contributed to valuable data for space exploration and the continued operation of the ISS. Their work helped advance the understanding of human health in space, particularly regarding the effects of long-term space travel on the human body.

This information is crucial for planning future missions to Mars and beyond, where astronauts may need to endure even longer periods in space.

Although they are not compensated with bonuses or hazard pay for their time spent in space, the experience gained during this extended mission may lead to further opportunities for astronauts like Wilmore and Williams. It could result in more prominent roles in future space missions or participation in new research projects that require experienced personnel.

NASA astronauts like Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are not financially rewarded in an extraordinary way for their extended time on the International Space Station. They receive a standard salary of over $152,000 per year, based on their regular 40-hour workweek, without overtime or holiday pay.

Additionally, they are allotted a small incidental allowance of $5 per day for their time spent in space, which in the case of Wilmore and Williams would total $1,430 for their extended mission.

While the work astronauts do in space is physically and mentally demanding, and their missions are often unpredictable, NASA treats it as part of their regular duties as federal employees. The extended stay of Crew-9 members is a reflection of the ongoing challenges of space exploration and the complexities of managing spacecraft like Boeing’s Starliner.

Nevertheless, the astronauts’ contributions to science and space exploration are invaluable, even if the financial compensation they receive does not reflect the extraordinary nature of their work.