Astronauts after months of stay: no money for overtime!

Astronauts after months of stay: no money for overtime!

After months of absence, the NASA astronauts successfully returned to Earth. Both spent 286 days in space, although originally only a stay of eight days on the International Space Station (ISS) was planned. Her return took place on Tuesday after technological problems with the “Starliner” spacecraft prevented an earlier return. The “Dragon Crew” capsule of SpaceX landed safely in the sea in front of Florida, and both astronauts are well.

During their long stay, Williams and Wilmore received only five dollars (around 4.60 euros) per day as ancillary costs for "incidentals". This regulation is standard for all NASA astronauts and ensures transport, accommodation and meals during the mission. For the entire stay, there is a sum of just under $ 1430 per person, which appears rather modest with such a long mission.

political discussion about compensation

How the Kleine Zeitung , US President Donald Trump made Joe Biden responsible for the extended mission. Trump also explained that he would take care of the payment of overtime and was ready to pay them "out of his own pocket". This remark raises questions about compensation and possible salary increases for astronauts.

The NASA spokesman explained that such incidents represent a professional risk for astronauts. The astronauts receive a regular content for a 40-hour week without overtime or holiday surcharges. Last year the NASA astronaut content was over $ 152,000, which is much more than the average annual income in the USA of $ 80,115 in 2023.

experiences in space

In an interview with CNN, Williams said that they were well looked after during their time. She reported sufficient food, suitable clothing and a great team. Despite the challenges that such a long stay in weightlessness brings, the team has remained strong and ready to integrate the experiences into their career.

Overall, the experiences of Williams and Wilmore illustrate not only the challenges in space, but also the associated political and financial issues. The discussion about the payment of astronauts is expected to continue for some time, since the public shows interest in the living and working conditions of these extraordinary professions.