On June 5, 2024, two astronauts, Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, were launched into orbit for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission. Instead, they remained in space for an unexpected 286 days, only recently returning to Florida. Given their prolonged stay, many assumed they would receive substantial additional compensation.
NASA is widely regarded as one of the most respected organizations on Earth—and beyond, given its focus on space exploration. The agency regularly sends astronauts on high-risk missions, compensating them with competitive salaries. However, a recent decision by NASA has drawn significant attention.
According to a report from Worldstar on X, the astronauts will only receive $5 per day for the extended time they spent in orbit, as the mission is classified as official government travel, which excludes overtime pay. Their annual salaries are approximately $150,000, but the minimal extra compensation has sparked debate.
While neither Williams nor Wilmore has publicly commented on the matter, it remains to be seen if they will address their compensation. For now, their priority is likely reuniting with their families after nearly a year in space.
