Wed Mar 19 04:40:00 UTC 2025: ## NASA’s Stingy Overtime Pay for Astronauts Sparks Outrage
**New Delhi:** While NASA is lauded globally for its space exploration achievements, a recent revelation about its compensation policies for astronauts has sparked controversy. Sunita Williams and her colleague, whose extended stay in space is nearing its end, are set to receive a paltry sum for their overtime.
Contrary to public perception, NASA doesn’t offer astronauts lucrative overtime pay for exceeding their mission duration. While official figures haven’t been released, media reports, citing previous astronaut payments, reveal a surprisingly low rate. According to former astronaut Cady Coleman, NASA pays approximately $4 per day for extended stays – roughly ₹340 (INR) – a figure dwarfed by even low-level workers’ overtime pay in India.
Coleman clarifies that this $4 isn’t a bonus but rather a standard daily allowance, treating the ISS mission as a business trip where the agency covers board and lodging. In contrast, a low-level worker in India earning ₹50,000 per month who puts in 2 hours of overtime daily might receive approximately ₹500 in overtime pay, significantly more than NASA’s daily allowance.
Although Williams and Wilmore will receive additional compensation—estimated at approximately $1,000 each—on top of their base salaries (Williams earning $125,133 and Wilmore $162,672 annually, equivalent to roughly ₹1.08 crore and ₹1.41 crore respectively), the total amount remains significantly less than many would expect for such a critical and extended mission. The revelation has raised questions about the fairness of NASA’s compensation structure for astronauts performing crucial work under challenging and high-risk conditions.
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