A Mixed Bag for NASA: Funding Boost for Crewed Missions, but Science Programs Face Uncertainty
The recent passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” has brought both hope and concern for the future of NASA’s space exploration efforts. While the law provides significant funding for crewed missions, particularly those under the Artemis program, it also highlights a growing tension between prioritizing human spaceflight and maintaining robust science missions.
Artemis Program Gets a Major Boost
At the heart of the new legislation is the Artemis moon program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era. The bill includes $4.1 billion for two additional lunar landings—Artemis 4 and Artemis 5—spreading the funds over four years from 2026 to 2029. This investment ensures that the Artemis program will continue beyond its initial three missions.
Artemis 1, an uncrewed test flight around the Moon, was successfully completed in 2022. Artemis 2, scheduled for 2026, will be the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon. Artemis 3, planned for the mid-2020s, will mark the first lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. The funding provided by the new law ensures that these ambitious goals remain on track.
In addition to the lunar landings, the bill allocates $20 million for the procurement of the Orion capsule from Lockheed Martin. This critical component will support future crewed missions to the Moon and beyond.
Lunar Gateway and International Space Station
Another key element of the Act is the $2.6 billion allocated for the development of the Lunar Gateway, a proposed space station that would orbit the Moon. This outpost would serve as a staging point for deep-space exploration and could support future missions to Mars.
The law also sets aside $1.25 billion to keep the International Space Station (ISS) operational until its retirement in the early 2030s. This funding ensures that the ISS continues to serve as a platform for scientific research and international collaboration.
Mars Telecommunications Orbiter
The Act also includes $700 million to fund a high-performance Mars Telecommunications Orbiter. This satellite, to be procured from a U.S. commercial provider by 2028, is designed to support future Mars sample-return missions and human exploration of the Red Planet.
Contradictions in the Administration’s Budget Proposal
Despite these positive developments, the new law appears to contradict the administration’s proposed FY 2026 budget, which calls for major cuts to NASA’s science programs. The overall budget for NASA would be reduced by 24%, from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. However, the cuts are not evenly distributed across the agency.
The Science Mission Directorate, responsible for NASA’s planetary science and astrophysics research, would face a 47% reduction in funding. This could lead to the cancellation of nearly half of NASA’s current science missions, including the Juno mission at Jupiter, the New Horizons probe heading beyond the solar system, and the DAVINCI and VERITAS Venus missions.
The Mars Sample Return mission, which has already collected samples on the Martian surface using the Perseverance rover, is also at risk. If canceled, this mission could set back U.S. efforts to study Martian geology and search for signs of past life.
Concerns from Former NASA Leaders
A joint statement from former heads of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate has raised concerns about the proposed cuts. They emphasize the importance of maintaining U.S. leadership in space science and warn that the reductions could allow China to take the lead in key areas of research.
The statement notes that many of NASA’s current science missions, such as the Mars rovers and the James Webb Space Telescope, have made groundbreaking discoveries. While the JWST is not directly threatened, the budget cuts could indirectly affect its operations.
Impact on International Collaborations
The proposed budget also threatens NASA’s contributions to international missions. For example, the agency’s support for an astrobiology instrument and the launch vehicle for the European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover could be eliminated. This would strain long-standing partnerships and limit the scope of scientific research.
Preparing for Cancellation
According to reports, scientists involved in dozens of missions have been asked to prepare “close-out” plans in anticipation of potential cancellations. The assumption is that these actions will begin on October 1, the start of the next fiscal year.
A Tenuous Future for Science Missions
For now, the focus remains on crewed missions, with the Artemis program and related initiatives receiving much-needed support. However, the future of NASA’s science missions remains uncertain. The proposed budget cuts could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the United States’ scientific capabilities but also for its role as a global leader in space exploration.
