Interesting, although NASA astronauts are not soldiers so any law about captured/stranded soldiers wouldn't really apply. But it does set a precedent. But beyon

Interesting, although NASA astronauts are not soldiers so any law about captured/stranded soldiers wouldn't really apply. But it does set a precedent. But beyond all that, I suspect it's safe to assume that NASA would make sure Watney was paid appropriately for his time, that's just a drop in the bucket that is the cost of the rescue mission anyway. Although I do wonder if his being assumed dead would have screwed up payroll...