Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams could earn a fortune after their 9-month space mission that was supposed to last 8 days; here's how much they will get paid
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who spent a long nine months in space rather than the scheduled eight-day mission, are to be paid extra for their additional time on the International Space Station (ISS), according to a report.
Compensation for Extended Stay in Space
The astronauts' extra time in orbit due to propulsion problems with their return spacecraft are likely to be reimbursed, though the figure is not revealed, reported Daily Mail.
While NASA gets ready to pay the astronauts, their compensation won't be with any bonuses for the hardship of an extended unplanned stay, as per the Washingtonian report. Rather, similar to all of the astronauts, they will receive their basic salary with a tiny bit of 'incidental' compensation, reported the Washingtonian.
According to the Washingtonian, «They get their regular salary, no overtime, and NASA takes care of transportation, lodging, and food.»
Ex-NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, who flew in space for 159 days, said «astronauts only receive their basic salary without overtime benefits for 'incidentals' — a small amount they are legally obligated to pay you,» as quoted by Daily Mail. Coleman claimed that, «For me it was around $4 a day,» as quoted in the report. As per that amount, Coleman got around $636 incidental pay for her 2010-2011 mission, reported Daily Mail.
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How Much Will Williams and Wilmore Earn for Their Nine-Month Mission?
According to Daily Mail, Williams and Wilmore's salary ranges between $125,133 and $162,672 per year. But based on the 'incidental' cash figure Coleman provided, the astronaut could earn little over $1,000 in 'incidental' cash on top of their basic salary, reported Daily Mail.
If their twelve-month salary is