Twists and surprises are the inevitable parts of the new U.S. administration. Currently, NASA is facing a huge cut for the earth science programs from the proposed budget.
Space News reported a proposed five percent cut in the fiscal year budget of 2018. The released blueprint of the budget on March 16 by the White House office of Management and Budget reveals a proposed fact for NASA. The space agency of the United States may face a huge decrement of $120 million that can affect the Earth science division.
NASA was able to acquire $1.921 billion in the past fiscal year 2016, but this time the space agency will be rewarded with $1.8 billion. This is a sharp decrement of more than $120 million. The latest development unveils that the proposed budget proposal cancels three important Earth science missions that are under development.
The three important missions are PACE, CLARREO, and OCO. The three missions are linked to the International Space station. Scientists of the space agency have already criticized the proposed cuts. Though, the NASA Acting Administrator, Robert Lightfoot, has tried to deemphasize the impacts of the cuts.
While attending a meeting of the NASA Advisory Council on March 30 Robert Lightfoot uttered that the science funding was stable. He said that some missions of the Earth science arena would not be able to see the development. He preferred to continue the study about the home planet.
Interestingly, Michael Freilich, director of the Earth science division of NASA utters the significant impact of the proposed cuts. But, at the same time plays down the proposal and describes the cancellation of four important projects. Freilich reveals that the omission of the Earth science in the bill doesn't mean the disapproval of all the Earth science programs.
Apart from NASA several other space agencies also play significant roles. European Space Agency or the ESA is also preparing for the success of the important ExoMars project, Science Times reported. The ExoMars project is approaching for a secure landing on Mars in order to trace the existence of life.
Now, it is currently impossible to uncover the way to implement the proposed cut of the budget when the four projects of NASA are facing the ultimate death. The details of proposed implementation can only be available after the release of the full budget proposal. It is now a clear fact that the space agency is facing a tough situation and they need to evolve a right plan to implement.
