The US administration, under the presidency of Republican Donald Trump, has proposed to cut billions of dollars from NASA’s budget, which puts important collaborations at risk and displaces the priorities of the moon space agency to Mars.
In response to these cuts, the general director of the European Space Agency (ESA), Josef Aschbacher, emphasized “the importance of cooperation in space activities.”
Ashbacher said that ESA would evaluate the impact of the proposed budget for NASA for the next fiscal year, published on May 2, since doubts persist about the “total repercussions” of the changes.
The budgetary proposal of the NASA Administration includes cuts from the Artemisa lunar program. As the United States focuses its ambitions on Mars, the cuts to its national space agency will also affect the work of European researchers, an international collaboration in which Europe is participates as a technical and scientific partner. If confirmed, the measure would eliminate approximately 6,000 million dollars from the NASA budget and, according to Reuters, “would boost the agenda centered on Mars led by the billionaire and executive director of Spacex, Elon Musk.”
Before the new proposals, in March other measures were also taken, such as the closure of three NASA offices and the elimination of their head scientist and technological head.
Billions at risk throughout the agency
The economic proposal would reduce NASA’s current budget, which is $ 24.8 billion, by 24 percent, which could endanger important scientific projects and the work of thousands of researchers around the world.
But the Republican administration proposes an increase of 1,000 million dollars for “Mars -centered programs.” This would indicate a change in NASA’s priorities, which move away from the moon, promoted during Trump’s first presidency, and are heading towards Mars, which Musk is now driving.
The NASA space launch (SLS) system program, which has been affected by cost overruns, and the Orion spacecraft crew capsule would cease to exist in 2027.
On the other hand, it is likely that the Spacex Starship Rocket program replaces both SLS and long -term Orion, after having obtained, in March 2025, a launch services contract with NASA until 2032.
The moon, entrance door to Mars
In its public statement on May 2, the White House argues that the budget focuses on “reaching the moon before China and taking the first human being to Mars.”
This coincides with the NASA press release of April 29, where it is claimed that the agenda of ‘United States first’ “and” ensuring that the United States wins the space race in this critical moment “is being put into practice.
“By assigning more than 7,000 million dollars to lunar exploration and introducing $ 1000 million in new investments for Mars -centered programs, it is guaranteed that the United States manned space exploration efforts remain incomparable, innovative and efficient,” says the letter.
In addition, the text adds that these objectives will be achieved by cutting NASA’s workforce and computer services, NASA center operations, maintenance of facilities, construction and environmental compliance activities. Other initiatives focused on climate and the environment will also be eliminated.
(rmr/ms)
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