The astronauts that were stranded for 9 months will receive no overtime benefits despite their original trip being scheduled for 8 days.
After nine months in space, the SpaceX Crew Dragon brought Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams home on March 18. They had launched in June 2024 for an eight-day mission, but Boeing’s Starliner thrusters failed due to helium leaks, stranding them at the ISS.
Multiple rescue attempts failed over 300 days. Progress came on March 14 when SpaceX Crew-10 arrived, allowing Wilmore, Williams, astronaut Nick Hague, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to return. They landed safely off the Gulf Coast near Tallahassee at 5:57 PM EST. NASA described the landing as “smooth,” sharing footage of the splashdown and recovery.
Post-mission, Wilmore and Williams face weeks of rehab due to prolonged microgravity exposure. Experts warn of bone density loss, weakened muscles, radiation risks, and neurological effects that may take months to reverse. Astronauts also experience psychological shifts, including the “Overview Effect,” which alters their perception of Earth.
Former NASA employee, Cady Coleman revealed that Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, were paid their standard salaries as if on a business trip, with NASA covering food, lodging, and transport. They also received a small per diem of about $4 per day—roughly $1,000 for their extended stay.
Their salaries range between $125,133 and $162,672 per year. Given their extended stay in space, their earnings for the additional nine months amount to between $93,850 and $122,004. Factoring in the incidentals, their total estimated earnings from the mission will be between $94,998 and $123,152.
Despite the unexpected delay, their return marks a success for SpaceX and NASA’s contingency planning, underscoring both the risks and resilience of modern spaceflight.
