In what has become one of NASA’s most prolonged unplanned missions, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally scheduled to return to Earth after spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). What began as a routine one-week Boeing Starliner test mission stretched into a marathon space journey—raising questions about compensation for their extended duty.
No overtime pay for astronomical hours
Despite logging an additional eight months in space, Williams and Wilmore won’t be receiving traditional overtime pay. According to former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, astronauts receive their regular salary regardless of mission duration, with only minimal additional compensation. “For me, it was around $4 a day,” she said.
For perspective, during Coleman’s 159-day mission in 2010–2011, she received approximately $636 in additional pay. Using similar calculations, Williams and Wilmore—after spending over 287 days in space—will likely receive about $1,148 each in extra compensation.
Compensation details for extended space mission
As high-ranking government employees, Williams and Wilmore are classified under GS-15, the highest rank in the U.S. General Schedule pay system. This classification typically provides a base annual salary between $125,133 and $162,672, depending on their specific step within the GS-15 grade.
For their extended nine-month stay aboard the ISS, their prorated earnings fall between $93,850 and $122,004. With the addition of incidental pay, their total compensation for the mission is expected to range from $94,998 to $123,152.
From Boeing Starliner to SpaceX rescue
The unexpected mission extension began in June last year when propulsion issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft—on its maiden crewed journey—rendered the vehicle unfit to return the astronauts safely to Earth. What was initially planned as a one-week mission stretched to more than nine months.
Relief finally arrived this Sunday when a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft docked at the ISS to ferry Williams and Wilmore home, along with another American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut.
Homecoming schedule
NASA confirmed on Sunday that Williams and Wilmore will splash down off the Florida coast at approximately 5:57 p.m. EDT on Tuesday. This timeline represents an acceleration from the previous schedule, which had targeted Wednesday at the earliest for their return.
Live coverage of the SpaceX Crew-9 return journey will begin with Dragon spacecraft hatch closure preparations at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Monday.