Congress Faces Deadline to Protect NASA Missions as Funding Cuts Loom

The future of NASA’s space exploration is at a critical juncture as federal funding is set to expire at the end of this month. This funding is vital for 19 active missions that are currently studying Earth’s climate, exploring the Solar System, and uncovering the mysteries of the Universe. With the fiscal year 2026 budget deadline approaching on October 1, Congress must act swiftly to prevent a government shutdown that could jeopardize these significant scientific endeavors.

If Congress approves a budget before the deadline, it will likely take the form of a continuing resolution, maintaining this year’s funding levels for a few weeks or months into the new fiscal year. The White House has proposed a budget that includes a substantial 25 percent cut to NASA’s overall funding and nearly a 50 percent reduction for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate. Such cuts could halt funding for at least 41 missions, impacting 19 currently operational missions and several more that are in advanced stages of development.

Congressional bills have been drafted in both the House and Senate over recent months, and while there are differences in the proposed appropriations, they largely reject the budget cuts suggested by the previous administration. Despite this, anxiety persists among scientists and space enthusiasts regarding the future of space science.

Active Missions at Risk

Several of the missions facing cancellation are well-known to those with even a casual interest in space exploration. The list includes the Orbiting Carbon Observatory missions, critical for monitoring climate change data, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and two of NASA’s three satellites currently orbiting Mars. The New Horizons spacecraft, which made headlines in 2015 for being the first to photograph Pluto up close, is also on the block.

The Juno spacecraft, the only one currently studying Jupiter, is similarly at risk. Both missions have the potential to provide invaluable scientific data. Alan Stern, principal investigator for New Horizons at the Southwest Research Institute, emphasized that the spacecraft is in excellent condition. “Everything on the spacecraft is working,” he stated, highlighting that it has enough fuel and power to operate well into the late 2040s or even 2050.

New Horizons has already traveled over 2.5 billion miles (over 4.1 billion kilometers) beyond Pluto. Since its encounter with the distant object Arrokoth on January 1, 2019, it has continued its journey into interstellar space, potentially becoming the third spacecraft to return data from this unexplored region.

Stern indicated that the proposed budget cuts would effectively “cancel essentially every extended mission,” leaving scientists anxious about the future of their work. He believes that the best chance of preserving these missions lies with Congress passing a budget that explicitly directs funding allocations.

Scientific Insights from Juno

The Juno spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016, gathering critical information about the planet’s structure, magnetic field, and atmosphere. Lead scientist Scott Bolton, also from the Southwest Research Institute, reported that the spacecraft remains fully functional, despite some degradation from radiation exposure. Juno’s mission has already been extended once and is set to conclude at the end of this month.

Bolton noted that while JunoCam, the spacecraft’s camera, has experienced radiation damage, it still offers valuable insights. The team is exploring innovative methods to repair the camera through a process called annealing, which could also inform future missions.

The operation of Juno in 2024 is estimated to cost $28.4 million, a fraction of NASA’s overall investment of $1.13 billion for the mission. Bolton remains hopeful for the future, stating, “We put in a proposal for three years. The science is potentially very good… But it’s sort of unknown.”

NASA headquarters has requested detailed outlines from mission leaders, including Stern and Bolton, regarding the implications of a potential mission termination. Turning off the spacecraft would mean they could not be reactivated, a point Stern highlighted. “There’s no way to turn them back on because they’re off,” he stated, underscoring the permanent nature of such a decision.

As the deadline approaches, the scientific community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that prioritizes continued exploration and leadership in space science. The outcome will not only impact numerous missions but could also redefine the United States’ role in global space exploration for years to come.