NASA astronauts stuck in space for 9 months won’t receive overtime pay

Guess some missions really are out of this world… but not the pay!

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore recently returned to Earth after a remarkable and unexpected nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

What was initially a week-long journey quickly turned into an extended stay due to Boeing Starliner thruster malfunctions, leaving the two astronauts in orbit for an impressive 286 days.

Despite the extended mission and the added risks of staying in space far beyond the original plan, neither Williams nor Wilmore will receive any overtime or hazard pay for their additional time in orbit.

Instead, they will be compensated with their standard government salaries, which range from $100,000 to $155,000 annually, along with a small daily stipend of about $4 to $5.

While astronauts are often exposed to extreme conditions and high stakes, the pay structure for NASA’s spacefaring employees doesn’t include the additional compensation typically associated with overtime or danger pay in other industries.

In fact, Williams and Wilmore’s situation highlights a unique aspect of working for NASA—astronauts are driven by a sense of purpose and exploration, not financial gain.

As Ken Bowersox, NASA’s former astronaut and current associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, put it, astronauts are trained to focus on completing their missions, no matter how long it takes, rather than worrying about when they’ll return home.

For these astronauts, the extended mission was all about continuing scientific research, maintaining the ISS, and contributing to the overall goals of space exploration.

Even though their time in space was much longer than expected, their commitment to their mission was unwavering, despite the lack of extra pay or incentives.

However, once news broke out about Willaims and Wilmore receiving no overtime compensation, naturally, the internet had some things to say.

"And I was angry because of 1 hour," one Instagram user joked.

In a world where other careers might reward overtime work with higher wages or special bonuses, NASA astronauts remain steadfast in their dedication to pushing the boundaries of human exploration—even if it means doing so without extra compensation.