Introduction

Imagine you're on a work trip that was supposed to last eight days, but then it turns into a nine-month endeavor—wouldn't you anticipate some hefty overtime pay? Well, not for NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who recently returned from an unexpected 278-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to a spacecraft malfunction.

Return to Earth

On Tuesday, these courageous spacefarers splashed down safely off the Gulf Coast of Florida, concluding an incredible journey that has captivated the public's imagination since the incident began last summer.

Salary Structure

Despite the romance and peril of being 250 miles above Earth, when it comes to compensation, Williams and Wilmore are treated like any typical federal employees on a business trip. Jimi Russell, a spokesperson for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate, clarified via email that "while in space, NASA astronauts are on official travel orders as federal employees."

Incidentals Allowance

For almost nine months, these astronauts were essentially confined to their workspace—endlessly circling the Earth in a series of modules. As federal employees, they do not receive overtime, holiday, or weekend pay. Instead, they have their transportation, meals, and lodging covered. Furthermore, they receive a daily "incidentals" allowance, a per diem payment traditionally awarded to employees for travel expenses.

Low Allowance

But here’s the kicker: their incidentals allowance is a mere $5 a day. This translates to around $1,430 for their extraordinary 286 days in orbit, stacked on top of their annual salary of approximately $152,258.

Uncertain Expenses

Given their unique environment, what incidental expenses could Williams and Wilmore have had while floating above Earth? It remains uncertain. Typically, such allowances cover “fees and tips given to porters, baggage carriers, hotel staff, and staff on ships,” according to the U.S. General Services Administration.

Personal Reflections

Curiously, Williams herself has spoken fondly of her time on the ISS, exclaiming, “This is my happy place. I love being up here in space. It’s just fun, you know?”

Health Impacts

However, a $5 daily allowance might seem laughable for a job that results in significant health impacts, including muscle and bone loss that can necessitate a gurney for their re-entry to gravity. To put things into perspective, fellow astronaut Clayton Anderson, who spent 152 days aboard the ISS in 2007, received a paltry per diem of $1.20 per day, totaling only $172.

Conclusion

Anderson shared on social media in 2022, "Being an astronaut was amazing and my dream job, but it IS a government job with government pay. I would have done WAY better with mileage!" So next time you hear stories about the glories of space travel, remember: for NASA astronauts, adventure doesn't come with extra cash—just the thrill of the unknown!