Astronauts’ shocking pay revealed!
A former NASA insider has revealed just how much astronauts are getting paid while stuck in space for an extended period of time.
Shocking space mission explained.
Sunita Williams, 59, and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, 61, were launched into space last June for a brief mission that turned into an eight-month ordeal.
What was meant to be a short eight-day trip turned into an extended stay on the International Space Station (ISS) after technical problems with their spacecraft.
They have experienced multiple technical issues, including propulsion system failures and helium leaks, forcing NASA to delay their return until a safe solution is found.
The reality of living in space described.
Williams and Wilmore have likely long forgotten what it’s like to walk on solid ground.
Coleman, who spent plenty of time in space herself, explained how isolation and weightlessness affect astronauts’ sense of time and routine.
She even likened floating around in space to being “a fish in an aquarium.”
It’s dark, tranquil, and you’re constantly gliding through the vast unknown.
But even with the strange daily routine, it’s clear that the astronauts have kept themselves busy.
They’ve conducted various spacewalks, experiments, and maintenance on the station to pass the time and keep busy with work.
Major update on stranded astronauts clarified.
On February 11, NASA shocked the world by announcing that the astronauts could be coming home sooner than expected.
Initially, their return was slated for late March, but now there’s a chance it could happen as early as March 12.
The reason for the early return? NASA is using the Crew-10 mission, which will launch with different spacecraft than initially planned.
The change in mission schedule is contingent on one thing—mission readiness.
Astronauts’ major challenges unveiled.
But while the crew might be headed home soon, re-adjusting to Earth’s gravity will be a challenge.
Williams recently revealed that, after months in space, she’s forgotten how to do basic things—like walking.
Speaking to students at Needham High School in Massachusetts, she confessed: “I haven’t walked. I haven’t sat down. I haven’t laid down.”
Her admission highlights just how much time in space can alter one’s physical and mental state.
For astronauts like Williams and Wilmore, returning to Earth isn’t as simple as hopping off the space shuttle.
They will need to go through extensive rehabilitation just to get their muscles back to Earth-standard strength.
Now, as the pair have spent nearly a year in orbit, many are wondering: how are they being compensated for their unexpected time away from Earth?
NASA’s astronaut pay policy confirmed.
It’s one thing to sign up for an eight-day mission, but eight months? Surely that’s worth some extra pay, right?
Well, according to a former NASA staffer, the astronauts are actually paid just like anyone else on a business trip.
Their salary remains the same, despite the unforeseen extension of their mission.
NASA provides astronauts with everything they need for life in space, including food, drink, transportation, and lodging.
There’s no grocery shopping on the ISS, but NASA’s got it covered.
But, as astronaut Cady Coleman explained, astronauts do receive a small daily stipend for “incidentals.”
It’s a small amount, but technically, they’re legally required to pay it to the astronauts.
Still, if you’re living in space for eight months, it’s hard to imagine that being enough for the inconvenience.
Astronauts ready to return!
For now, they remain in space, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of Earth, but yearning for the familiarity of home.
Their mission may have gone longer than anyone expected, but Williams and Wilmore are still preparing for the biggest journey of all: returning to a world that might feel foreign after eight months in space.
With their unexpected journey soon to end, the real question is: what will life be like when they finally step back on solid ground?