NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are now returning to Earth after an extended nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Originally scheduled as a one-week mission starting in June 2023, their stay was prolonged due to technical problems with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which delayed their return far beyond the initial timeline.
They’re on their way! #Crew9 undocked from the @Space_Station at 1:05am ET (0505 UTC). Reentry and splashdown coverage begins on X, YouTube, and NASA+ at 4:45pm ET (2145 UTC) this evening. pic.twitter.com/W3jcoEdjDG
— NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025
Williams and Wilmore will be compensated for the prolonged stay, as per the reports. However, unlike traditional overtime pay, their earnings follow a different structure. NASA astronauts do not receive additional compensation based on extended hours or missions, but instead, their pay remains at a standard salary rate regardless of how long their mission lasts.
ALSO SEE: Poco F7 Ultra And F7 Pro Leaked Renders Reveal New Design And Colour Variants
Former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman explained in an interview with Washingtonian that astronauts are not entitled to overtime but do receive a small daily allowance for incidentals during their missions. This amount is minimal, with Coleman mentioning that she received around $4 per day during her time in space. This incidental pay serves as a form of compensation, though it pales in comparison to traditional overtime earnings.
.@NASA will provide live coverage of Crew-9’s return to Earth from the @Space_Station, beginning with @SpaceX Dragon hatch closure preparations at 10:45pm ET Monday, March 17.
Splashdown is slated for approximately 5:57pm Tuesday, March 18: https://t.co/yABLg20tKX pic.twitter.com/alujSplsHm
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) March 16, 2025
Based on Cady Coleman’s experience during her 159-day mission in 2010-11, where she earned $636 (approximately ₹53,000) in incidental pay, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are expected to receive around $1,148 (approximately ₹96,000) each for their 287-day mission in space. This small allowance is provided as additional compensation for incidentals during their extended stay aboard the ISS.
Williams and Wilmore hold GS-15 rankings, the highest level in the US General Pay Schedule, with base salaries ranging from $125,133 to $162,672 per year (approximately ₹1.04 crore to ₹1.35 crore). Their extended nine-month stay in space will result in prorated earnings between $93,850 and $122,004 (approximately ₹7.8 lakh to ₹10 lakh). When factoring in the incidental pay, their total estimated earnings for the mission will fall between $94,998 and $123,152 (approximately ₹7.9 lakh to ₹10.2 lakh).
ALSO SEE: Apple Set To Kickstart Mass Production Of Foldable iPhone And iPad Pro By Late 2026
