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How much NASA could pay Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore for their 9-month stay in space

According to multiple reports, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are GS-15 federal employees and their annual salary ranges from $125,133 to $162,672 (Rs 1.08 crore to Rs 1.41 crore).

In photo: Nick Hague, right, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore. (NASA via AP)

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded in space due to a technical issue since June 2024 aboard the International Space Station (ISS), are all set to return to Earth via the Dragon spacecraft of SpaceX reportedly by March 19. But it’s the amount they might be making due to their overstay in space has become a talking point.

According to multiple reports, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are GS-15 federal government employees and hence their annual salary ranges from $125,133 to $162,672 (Rs 1.08 crore to Rs 1.41 crore).

However, as per retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, Williams and Wilmore might not be paid any special overtime salary for their extended stay in space which has been over nine months till now.

Watch the @SpaceX #Crew10 members enter the space station and join the Exp 72 crew for a long-duration space research mission. https://t.co/WHpxBz51Ts https://t.co/WHpxBz51Ts

— International Space Station (@Space_Station) March 16, 2025

In an interview with Washingtonian, Coleman said that “Astronauts are paid like any federal employee on a business trip. They get their regular salary, no overtime, and NASA takes care of transportation, lodging, and food.”

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Also Read | What happens to the human body after nine months in space?

When asked if Williams and Wilmore would be earning in overtime since their eight-day mission ballooned, Coleman added “There is some small amount of money per day for incidentals that they end up being legally obligated to pay you.” She recalled that it was $4 (Rs 347) a day for her.

According to Coleman’s data, Williams and Wilmore could receive an extra amount of $1,148 (approximately Rs 1 lakh) each for their 287 days stay in space.

After being in space due to technical issues in the Boeing Starliner, NASA has finally cleared the return of its astronauts stuck for the past nine months. Williams and Wilmore are set to return not before March 19 in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

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