United States President Donald Trump on Friday said he would personally cover the overtime pay for astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who returned to Earth this week after spending nine months in space.
Wilmore and Williams had initially embarked on what was meant to be an eight-day mission. However, after their spacecraft malfunctioned, they spent 286 days in space, extending their time by 278 days longer than expected.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump responded to a question about the astronauts’ overtime pay, saying, “Nobody’s ever mentioned this to me. If I have to, I’ll pay it out of my own pocket.”
A correspondent highlighted that the astronauts received a per diem of USD 5 for each day spent in space, resulting in a total of USD 1,430 in additional pay. Alongside their annual NASA salary of approximately USD 152,258, the extra amount reflected their prolonged stay.
The astronauts returned to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, with Trump extending his appreciation to Elon Musk, head of Tesla, SpaceX, and leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“Think if we don’t have him?” Trump remarked. “If we don’t have Elon. They could be up there a long time. Who else is going to get them?”
Trump also acknowledged the physical toll experienced by astronauts during extended space missions, stating, “The body starts to deteriorate” after several months in orbit.
The successful return of Wilmore and Williams concluded an unexpectedly lengthy mission, bringing their journey to an end with assurances from the president regarding their compensation.
Also Read: Gujarat Cabinet Expansion Likely In Early April, Turncoats To Be Included
