According to a live stream from NASA, the SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down in the waters near Florida at 5:57 PM ET on March 18. The spacecraft was carrying four astronauts, including American astronauts Barry Wilmore, and Suni Williams, who had been stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) due to a malfunction with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
This marked the end of their unexpected overstay of more than nine months in space.
Following the splashdown, the two astronauts will be transported by helicopter to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston for more detailed medical examinations. They will only be able to return home after receiving medical clearance.
It is reported that the two spent a total of 286 days in space. As GS-15 level Federal employees, Williams and Wilmore earn annual salaries ranging from US$125,133 (approximately HK$970,000) to US$162,672 (approximately HK$1.26 million), but their total "overtime pay" for the 286 days amounts to only US$1,148 (approximately HK$8,920).
Former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman recently revealed in an interview with U.S. media that astronauts' salaries are standard and do not include overtime pay. She mentioned that while a daily allowance is provided, it is mandated by law. Coleman noted that her daily allowance was about US$4.
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