• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Former NASA staffer reveals shocking amount 'stranded' astronauts are being paid for their time in space

Home> Technology> NASA

Updated 12:33 12 Feb 2025 GMTPublished 12:29 12 Feb 2025 GMT

Former NASA staffer reveals shocking amount 'stranded' astronauts are being paid for their time in space

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have been in space since June, here's how overtime works up there

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

A former NASA staff member has explained how two astronauts who have been in space since last year will be paid for their extra time.

Astronauts Sunita Williams, 59, and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, 61, were initially launched into space from Cape Canaveral Space Force on June 5 last year for what was meant to be an eight-day mission.

However, due to technical difficulties with their aircraft, Williams and Wilmore remain on the International Space Station (ISS) to this very day.

Advert

While they have managed to keep themselves busy up there with jobs and even the space-walk, many are questioning how the astronauts are being paid.

I mean, they only expected an eight-day trip, right? So, surely NASA will be paying them a bit extra for the inconvenience.

The astronauts began their mission in June last year (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
The astronauts began their mission in June last year (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Well, as per the Washingtonian magazine, Williams and Wilmore are apparently paid like any employee on a business trip, so essentially their regular salary.

Advert

NASA supplies the food and drink, as there's of course no supermarkets up in space, while the space agency provides transportation and lodging.

Cady Coleman, a retired NASA astronaut, told the Washingtonian: "There is some small amount of money per day for incidentals that they end up being legally obligated to pay you."

UNILAD has reached out to NASA for comment.

Having been in space for a whopping eight months at this point, Williams and Wilmore have probably forgotten what it is like living a normal life on Earth.

Advert

Coleman knows all about spending time away from our planet, telling the Washingtonian how she'd often float in space by herself.

"It’s almost like you’re a fish in an aquarium, where it’s sort of dark and you’re gliding through this wonderful place," she told the outlet.

The astronauts are on their standard salary, according to an ex NASA staffer (NASA)
The astronauts are on their standard salary, according to an ex NASA staffer (NASA)

On Tuesday (February 11), NASA announced the astronauts may be back home sooner than the previous target date of late March.

Advert

The space agency has been able to adjust it scheduled as they are now using the Crew-10 mission as opposed to the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

The mission will now launch as early as March 12, though that very much depends on 'mission readiness'.

It will certainly be tricky for the astronauts to adapt to normal life once more after they return.

Williams admitted recently that being in space for so long has meant she's forgotten how to do basic human functions, such as walking.

Advert

Speaking on a call to students at Needham High School in Massachusetts, she said: "I've been up here long enough, right now I've been trying to remember what it's like to walk. I haven't walked. I haven't sat down. I haven't laid down."

Featured Image Credit: NASA

Topics: NASA, Space, International Space Station

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • NASA finally reveals shocking reason why astronauts have been stranded in space for 9 months
  • Everything NASA astronauts did while being stranded in space for nine months
  • NASA shares update on astronauts who could be stranded in space until 2025
  • Elon Musk makes shocking claim about the reason why NASA astronauts are still stranded in space

Choose your content:

a day ago
2 days ago
3 days ago
  • a day ago

    Biohacker who spends $2,000,000 a year to 'live forever' details moment his ‘face blew up’ after making big mistake

    What did he do now?

    Technology
  • 2 days ago

    Japan discovers metal that could drastically change the world after investing $107,000,000,000 into revolution

    The discovery will help fund Japan's bid to become a net-zero country by 2050

    Technology
  • 2 days ago

    'Godfather of AI' reveals the one job that will survive as artificial intelligence takes over workplaces

    Geoffrey Hinton has warned that humanity is at risk due to the development of AI

    Technology
  • 3 days ago

    Telegram founder who has over 100 children around the world reveals how much of his wealth they will inherit

    Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov admitted to having over 100 children via sperm donation

    Technology