NASA’s already tiny budget was slashed to $18.8 billion, the lowest since 1961 [ before any manned missions ].
NASA Science took the brunt of the cuts with a 47% budget decrease. Most of what was saved from NASA’s overall budget when to the SLS and Orion, plus other parts went to the Space Force in a huge waste and duplication of missions and programs. Those parts were saved by Ted Cruz bnecuse they effected Texas. Had he not, NASA’s budget would have been even smaller.
SLS and Orion [ whenever it will fly ] will do one mission to orbit the Moon, and then that too is cancelled. There is no plan to actually land on the Moon, and there is no Lunar Lander design/build program.
How did this budget come to exist?
A) Poor leadership from both within and without NASA. Mostly a total lack of direction from past Presidents [ except GW Bush’s ‘Moon to Mars’ initiative which died in Congress ]. And the poor selection of Agency Directors - most of whom were political hacks.
B) The Director of the (OMB) is Russell Vought, who has long sought to eliminate NASA, recommended the budget cuts to Congress - there was no input from NASA or any other interested party. Congress accepted the cuts, and 47 sighed them into law.
Result of this mess [ which might have been cleaned up had 47 not thrown a fit about his Republican nominee, Jared Isaacman, donations to some Democrats ] is that the US space program is essential walking dead. Now there is some gal running the show - likely, very likely, no better than Nelson & maybe far worse as she is only a temp.
This mess gives China a free hand to take the Lunar South Pole and begin to militarily colonize the Moon.
other Angry links
Save NASA! Science budget cuts don’t help anyone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L_g1NtaS5E
Could Trump put SpaceX out of business? Will ruining Elon Musk save us “big money?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L24Lj6buEGc
