US President Donald Trump has promised to personally pay NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore after learning they earned just $5 a day in “incidentals” during their unexpectedly extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The astronauts returned to Earth earlier this week after 286 days in space, despite their mission initially being planned for just eight days. Speaking on the situation, Trump said, “Nobody’s ever mentioned this to me. If I have to, I’ll pay it out of my own pocket.”
Williams and Wilmore had been at the ISS since June 5 last year and were flown back to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, splashing down off Florida’s eastern coast on Wednesday. As is customary, the astronauts disembarked on stretchers after enduring prolonged weightlessness. Visuals of the duo smiling and waving were beamed live worldwide, capturing a historic moment celebrated by their families and viewers across the globe.
However, despite spending nearly nine months in space, the astronauts will not receive overtime pay due to their status as federal employees. Under NASA’s policies, astronauts are classified under the General Schedule, earning a base salary between $94,998 (₹81,69,861) and $123,152 (₹1,05,91,115) annually. They do not earn extra wages for extended missions, overtime, weekends, or holidays.
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Instead, NASA covers transportation, accommodation, and meals, while allocating a daily “incidentals” allowance of $5 for minor expenses. With their 286-day stay, both Williams and Wilmore will receive an additional $1,430 (₹1,22,980) each.
Reacting to this, President Trump remarked, “Is that all? That’s not a lot for what they had to go through.”
During a press conference at the Oval Office, Trump thanked Elon Musk for the safe return of the astronauts, acknowledging SpaceX’s critical role in the mission’s success. “If we don’t have Elon…They could be up there for a long time. Who else is going to get them? The body starts to deteriorate after 9-10 months in space. Think if we don’t have time? He’s (Elon Musk) going through a lot right now,” Trump added.
The astronauts now face a rigorous rehabilitation program to rebuild muscle mass and bone density, including strength training and mobility exercises, as they adjust back to Earth’s gravity.
The mission once again highlights the incredible sacrifices of astronauts and the challenges of long-term space travel, sparking a debate on how space explorers are compensated for their time beyond Earth.
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