According to retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, there is no special overtime salary for astronauts. Since they are federal employees, their time in space is treated just like any regular work trip on Earth. They continue to earn their regular pay, with NASA covering their food and living expenses on the ISS.
The only additional compensation they receive is a small daily stipend for incidentals – reportedly just $4 (Rs 347) per day, Ms Coleman told Washingtonian.
For reference, during her 159-day mission in 2010-11, Ms Coleman received a total of around $636 (over Rs 55,000) in extra pay. Using the same calculation, Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore – after spending over 287 days in space – will likely receive just $1,148 (approximately Rs 1 lakh) each in additional compensation.
NASA has maintained that the astronauts are not technically “stranded”, as they have been actively working on the ISS.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are classified under the GS-15 pay grade, the highest level for federal employees under the General Schedule (GS) system. GS-15 government employees receive an annual base salary ranging between $125,133 – $162,672 (approximately Rs 1.08 crore – Rs 1.41 crore).
For their extended 9-month stay on the ISS, Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore will earn a prorated salary between $93,850 – $122,004 (approximately Rs 81 lakh – Rs 1.05 crore).
Including the $1,148 (around Rs 1 lakh) in incidental pay, their total earnings for the mission is expected to be $94,998 – $123,152 (approximately Rs 82 lakh – Rs 1.06 crore).
