The body suffers in space, the risk is enormous, and the salary is surprising: the salary of Artemis II astronauts is lower than many people imagine.

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 26/04/2026 at 16:52

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NASA has not disclosed the salaries of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, but official data indicates fixed remuneration, without additional pay for risk, overtime, or time in orbit

The salaries of the astronauts chosen for the Artemis II mission have not been officially disclosed by NASA, but data from the agency and the American government indicate annual values close to US$152,258.00 in 2024.

How much NASA estimates to pay astronauts

Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen were selected for Artemis II, but their individual earnings have not been publicly released. Still, it is possible to estimate the remuneration range for these professionals.

In a publication with answers to frequently asked questions, NASA reported that the annual salaries of astronauts were estimated, in 2024, at US$152,258.00, about R$776,000 per year.

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Astronauts’ salaries follow federal schedule

Payment can also be compared to the American federal General Schedule system, known as GS. More experienced astronauts typically fall between GS-13 and GS-15 levels.

In these ranges, salaries vary, on average, between US$104,000, about R$530,000, and US$161,000, approximately R$820,500 per year.

The values can be higher as the career advances. Even so, the astronauts’ salaries follow the logic of public servants, without individual disclosure for each member of Artemis II.

No bonus for risk or time in space

Despite the complexity of space missions, there is no additional payment for activities outside the standard work schedule.

Astronauts receive a fixed salary even when they are in orbit or participate in extended missions.

Astronaut Mike Massimino, who participated in two Space Shuttle missions, told MarketWatch in 2024 that he and his colleagues did not receive extra financial benefits for time in space.

Massimino explained that there is no payment for risk, overtime, compensation, or financial incentive to stay longer in orbit.

The work is remunerated as a standard 40-hour work week.

Expenses covered during missions

In addition to the astronauts’ salaries, NASA covers expenses such as transportation, food, and lodging during missions.

In some cases, there are small additional daily allowances, but without significant impact on total remuneration.

With information from O Globo.

The body suffers in space, the risk is enormous, and the salary is surprising: the salary of Artemis II astronauts is lower than many people imagine.

NASA has not disclosed the salaries of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, but official data indicates fixed remuneration, without additional pay for risk, overtime, or time in orbit

How much NASA estimates to pay astronauts

Astronauts’ salaries follow federal schedule

No bonus for risk or time in space

Expenses covered during missions

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The body suffers in space, the risk is enormous, and the salary is surprising: the salary of Artemis II astronauts is lower than many people imagine.

NASA has not disclosed the salaries of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, but official data indicates fixed remuneration, without additional pay for risk, overtime, or time in orbit

How much NASA estimates to pay astronauts

Astronauts’ salaries follow federal schedule

No bonus for risk or time in space

Expenses covered during missions

The Soviet Union spent 22 years drilling into the Earth’s crust and reached a depth of 12,262 meters — they found water where it was thought impossible, hydrogen bubbling from the rock, granite that is 2.7 billion years old, and temperatures of 180 degrees that melted the drill bits.

Egypt wants to draw 10 million cubic meters of water from the Nile per day into the desert, irrigate a new agricultural frontier, and build a city where there is currently only sand.

Norway is drilling 27 kilometers of rock 392 meters below the bottom of a fjord to build the world’s largest and deepest underwater road tunnel — when completed, a 21-hour journey will be reduced to 10.

A German architect built a cylindrical house in 1994 that rotates to follow the sun throughout the day, generates 5 times more energy than it consumes, and was the world’s first energy-positive house.

An astronaut spent 340 days in space while his twin brother stayed on Earth, and NASA found a “rejuvenating” effect, genes, microbiome, cognition, and immune system that revealed the biological cost of living outside the planet.

Xiaomi launches new smart stove with titanium sensor and automatic shutdown that detects an open flame without supervision.

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