A former NASA employee has shed light on the payment situation for two astronauts who have been in space since last year, extending their mission unexpectedly.
Astronauts Sunita Williams, 59, and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, 61, were launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force on June 5 of last year for what was intended to be an eight-day mission.
However, unforeseen technical issues with their spacecraft have kept Williams and Wilmore aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to this day.
While they have stayed busy with various responsibilities, including spacewalks, questions have arisen about how they are being compensated for their extended stay.
Initially set for a brief mission, it seems plausible that NASA might provide additional compensation for the extended duration.
According to the Washingtonian magazine, the astronauts are being compensated similarly to employees on a business trip, which essentially means their regular salary continues.
NASA covers the cost of food and beverages, given the absence of supermarkets in space, and the agency also provides for transportation and lodging.
Cady Coleman, a retired NASA astronaut, explained to the Washingtonian: “There is some small amount of money per day for incidentals that they end up being legally obligated to pay you.”
UNILAD has sought comments from NASA regarding this situation.
After spending eight months in space, Williams and Wilmore are likely to feel detached from life on Earth.
Cady Coleman, familiar with extended time away from Earth, described to the Washingtonian her experiences floating alone in space.
“It’s almost like you’re a fish in an aquarium, where it’s sort of dark and you’re gliding through this wonderful place,” she shared with the publication.
On Tuesday, February 11, NASA revealed that the astronauts might return home sooner than the previously anticipated late March date.
The agency has updated its schedule by utilizing the Crew-10 mission instead of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
The mission is now slated for launch as early as March 12, contingent on ‘mission readiness’.
Reintegrating into daily life may pose challenges for the astronauts upon their return.
Williams recently shared that her prolonged time in space has affected her memory of basic human functions, like walking.
During a call with students at Needham High School in Massachusetts, she remarked: “I’ve been up here long enough, right now I’ve been trying to remember what it’s like to walk. I haven’t walked. I haven’t sat down. I haven’t laid down.”