NASA is planning to head back to the moon by 2025 and Congress is ready to spend billions to help fund these missions.
A proposal earlier this year requested $27.2 billion for NASA’s endeavors, granting NASA enough room to continue growing funding for the Artemis lunar exploration program, Mars Sample Return, Earth Science, technology research and development, as well as account for price increases due to inflation.
You can read a full breakdown of NASA’s 2024 budget estimates here.
As reported by TechCrunch, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees “recommend earmarking around $25 billion for NASA for the next fiscal year.” Part of this money will contribute funding to the Artemis program along with the Orion crew capsule and the Space Launch System.
Under the new budget, NASA will still see a $440 million increase compared to this year’s funding. The House bill would grant $7.9 billion while the Senate bill would offer $7.74 billion towards funding NASA programs.
More money is being slated for the development of rockets and associated architecture while expected cuts are looming for science missions. Each mission costs billions to recreate the rockets for the Space Launch System, which are not reusable further adding to the costs of such missions. So far, over $24 billion has been spent on the Space Launch System since it began development in 2010.
Global Village Space reports several scientists and researchers said “Cutting funding for scientific exploration undermines the long-term goals of NASA. Science missions play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the universe and our own planet. They contribute to technological advancements, inspire future generations, and provide valuable insights into our world and beyond.”
Their ideal budget would see overall investments be split more fairly between Space Launch System and Orion missions and NASA’s many other science missions to “ensure a comprehensive and well-rounded approach to space exploration.”