The pair of NASA astronauts only received an extra $1,430 for the nine-month ordeal, but at least a pod of dolphins gave them a warm welcome home. The paltry sum is a reminder that they are still government employees despite how high-profile and harrowing their occupation is.

Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, 61, and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams, 59, only planned to be floating in the endless abyss of space for a week. Eight days tops. But the two Nasa astronauts have been stuck in the International Space Station (ISS) since June after a raft of technical hiccups.