NASA Budget to Be Gutted

OmegaWolf747

The White House on Friday released a budget blueprint that signals major shake-ups at NASA, as part of an effort to axe $163 billion in federal spending.

The proposed cuts include slashing roughly 25%, or more than $6 billion, from NASA’s budget. The biggest reductions would come from the space agency’s space science, Earth science and mission support divisions.

The blueprint also proposes phasing out the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft that NASA was developing to return astronauts to the moon, ending the program after only two more flights.<

This one is deeply concerning. If the Nancy Grace Telescope is canceled, our search for exoplanets will be set back by decades.

InternetJeff

OmegaWolf747

SLS is an obscene expense compared to foreseeable alternatives. Over $90 billion in program expenses so far, with over $4 billion per launch. The closest near term competitor is Starship, which is projected to be a fraction of that launch cost and reusable (SLS is not).

https://www.space.com/artemis-1-space-launch-system-rocket-cost

MacLeech

InternetJeff SLS is an obscene expense compared to foreseeable alternatives. Over $90 billion in program expenses so far, with over $4 billion per launch. The closest near term competitor is Starship, which is projected to be a fraction of that launch cost and reusable (SLS is not).

The proposed NASA cuts aren’t expected to affect SLS until after it’s next couple of launches are completed. Next planned being a mid-2026 crewed moon flyby and the third being a 2027 (more like 2029) crewed moon landing. Costing at least an addition $10 billon total. The landing REQUIRES Starship HLS to be a functional crewed vehicle.

InternetJeff

MacLeech The landing REQUIRES Starship HLS to be a functional crewed vehicle.

Once Starship is up and running, I imagine that NASA will likely cancel what’s left SLS.

telcodad

Latest update on NASA/Programs funding:

Republican-backed reconciliation bill passes, includes funding for ISS, Artemis programs, Space Shuttle relocation
By Will Robinson-Smith, Spaceflight Now - July 5, 2025
https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/07/05/republican-backed-reconciliation-bill-passes-includes-funding-for-iss-artemis-programs-space-shuttle-relocation/

A massive tax and spending package passed by the Senate on Wednesday was approved by the House on Thursday and signed by President Donald Trump on Friday, July 4.
:
It is separate from the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills, which include the funding for NASA’s budget along with other agencies, however, there are provisions that do concern America’s space agency. ….