• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
‘Stranded’ NASA astronauts to likely be paid surprising amount for ‘inconvenience’ of being stuck in space

Home> News

Published 11:14 20 Mar 2025 GMT

‘Stranded’ NASA astronauts to likely be paid surprising amount for ‘inconvenience’ of being stuck in space

How much will they earn from the trip, which was longer than expected?

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore finally returned home to a heroes’ welcome earlier this week, having spent more than nine months in space.

The pair were only due to be on the International Space Station (ISS) for around a week, but after technical issues, they found themselves there for an extra 278 days. Ouch.

Thankfully, they seemed to take it in their stride – simply because that’s what astronauts have to do.

"We came prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short," Wilmore previously told reporters, stressing that he didn’t think the extension was in any way affected by politics.

Advert

"That's what your nation's human spaceflight program's all about," he added. "Planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies. And we did that."

The astronauts landed home earlier this week (NASA)
The astronauts landed home earlier this week (NASA)

But while they were ‘prepared’ to prolong their trip – and delay their return to loved ones – they should be receiving compensation for the unexpected change.

While the exact figure has not been confirmed, we do know that in the past the amount has been surprisingly small.

Advert

Former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman told the Washingtonian that astronauts are paid like any federal employee on a business trip – that is to say, they get their regular salary with no overtime, while NASA takes care of transportation, lodging, and food.

“There is some small amount of money per day for incidentals that they end up being legally obligated to pay you,” she said, saying she received around $4 a day when she went on a 159-day mission between 2010 and 2011 – a number that works out at around $636.

According to the Daily Mail, Williams and Wilmore’s salaries range between $125,133 and $162,672 per year, which – based on Coleman’s figures – means they could earn little more than $1,000 in 'incidental' cash on top of their basic salary.

Williams and Wilmore, pictured during a 'dress rehearsal' last April (Instagram/@nasaastronauts)
Williams and Wilmore, pictured during a 'dress rehearsal' last April (Instagram/@nasaastronauts)

Advert

Of course, that doesn't allow for inevitable inflation, but even so the maths may seem surprising.

The duo now have to undergo NASA’s official 45-day rehabilitation programme, which consists of three phases.

This begins with a focus on walking, flexibility and muscle strengthening, before things move on to phase two, which adds proprioceptive exercises – aimed at strengthening the body and improving the mind's perception of its movement and position - and cardio reconditioning.

Finally, phase three – the longest – focuses on returning astronauts to their optimal level of physical performance via functional development training.

Advert

This process is crucial for astronauts returning home, as while they may exercise for at least two hours a day while on the ISS, this isn’t enough to fully counter the effects their bodies experience.

Featured Image Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images/Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images

Topics: Space, Nasa, Money

Jess Hardiman
Jess Hardiman

Jess is Entertainment Desk Lead at LADbible Group. She graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

X

@Jess_Hardiman

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
16 hours ago
  • VTM
    6 mins ago

    Belgian royal family reveal 'new prince' who has been kept a secret for 25 years

    Prince Laurent of Belgium seemed to confirm the bombshell news in a statement

    News
  • Facebook
    an hour ago

    Charlie Kirk suspected killer’s alarming text exchange after shooting revealed by authorities

    The alleged text messages that Charlie Kirk assassination suspect Tyler Robinson sent have been revealed

    News
  • Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage
    2 hours ago

    Prince Harry makes very surprising admission after King Charles reunion

    The Duke of Sussex has updated royal fans on what his priorities are after meeting with dad King Charles III

    News
  • CBC Toronto/ Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images
    16 hours ago

    British father speaks out after being falsely linked to killing of Charlie Kirk amid fake reports

    A father was caught in a horrifying case of mistaken identity following the death of Charlie Kirk

    News
  • Surprising amount of money stranded NASA astronauts 'to be paid' after being stuck in space for over 9 months
  • Elon Musk has unbelievable explanation for 'stranded' NASA astronauts being stuck in space despite everything they've said
  • Shocking amount of time it could take ‘stranded’ NASA astronauts to recover from nine-month stay in space
  • What happens if someone dies in space as 'stranded' NASA astronauts' return to earth sparks major questions