The days of NASA’s Space Launch System moon rocket and Orion space capsule may be limited, as a
White House budget proposal
for the space agency aims to phase out the overbudget SLS after just two more missions.
And it’s not just Artemis
. NASA’s budget as a whole would see agency-wide cuts that go beyond human exploration with the total budget dropping $6 billion from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion — or nearly 25 percent. NASA’s science budget takes a particularly significant hit.
“The White House has proposed the largest single-year cut to NASA in American history,” The Planetary Society said in a statement, noting that the proposal comes as President Trump’s proposed pick to lead NASA, businessman space traveler Jared Isaacman, still is not in the job.
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It would dangerously cut NASA’s science budget by 47%, leading to the termination of numerous operational missions valued at billions of dollars.
On May 2nd, the 46-page discretionary budget request for fiscal year 2026 was released to the public. Notable among the suggested reductions were cuts to NASA’s SLS rocket program as well as the Gateway space station project—an initiative intended to circle the Moon beginning with the Artemis IV mission via collaboration with international partners.
“The Budget funds a
A program aimed at substituting SLS and Orion.
“illuminating the Moon using more economical commercial systems designed to facilitate more ambitious future lunar expeditions,” as stated in the document.
The SLS is reported to have a price tag of $4 billion for each launch and has exceeded its initial budget by approximately 140%. Persistent concerns have surrounded the massive rocket due to these cost overruns and delays; however, it remains a key component in the initiative aimed at sending Americans back to the moon before China does.
The budget did not specify what would take over from SLS, but many people have suggested SpaceX’s Starship as a replacement. However, this spacecraft has yet to accomplish a successful orbital flight.
According to the budget, these reductions aim to redirect efforts towards outpacing China and achieving the milestone of landing the first person on Mars. For this purpose, over $7 billion has been earmarked for moon missions, with an additional $1 billion dedicated specifically to Mars-related initiatives. Additionally, the document proposes boosting funding for Human Space Exploration by $647 million. Officials anticipate saving approximately $879 million each year once they phase out both the SLS rocket and Orion program.
So far, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) has conducted one uncrewed mission at the end of 2022. Throughout this flight, problems with the Orion spacecraft’s heatshield were discovered during re-entry, which necessitated modifications to its intended path.
The SLS rocket for the Artemis II mission, which is set to fly around the moon no earlier than spring 2026, is currently being stacked inside Kennedy Space Center’s massive Vehicle Assembly Building.
Artemis III is scheduled to send four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule using NASA’s Space Launch System rocket at some point after mid-2027. After reaching lunar orbit, the team will rendezvous with a SpaceX Starship; subsequently, two of these astronauts will move over and make the landing on the moon’s surface—their descent marking the first human touch down in over half a century.
Requests for comments from U.S. Representative Mike Haridopolos’ office have not been answered yet as of Friday.
Mars emerges as a new focal point
Discussing the landing of Americans on Mars has become a significant topic for President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who transitioned from being the CEO of SpaceX to leading the Department of Government Efficiency.
In a press statement, NASA representatives mentioned that the suggested budget “speeds up human expeditions to the Moon and Mars through a financially prudent series of missions.”
Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro stated in the announcement that this proposal involves investments aimed at exploring both the Moon and Mars concurrently, all while maintaining a focus on essential scientific and technological research.
The proposal also includes reducing activities at the International Space Station since it is scheduled to be retired by 2030 due to its age. As this happens, NASA will transition towards utilizing commercial space stations like Axiom’s proposed facility.
NASA’s proposed reduction in scientific funding has been suggested
The proposed reductions extend further than human space exploration. Space Science faces a decrease of $2.2 billion, whereas Earth Science is slated for a reduction of $1.1 billion. Specifically highlighted areas include those focused on climate issues.
“In order to meet these goals, the budget proposes to refine the NASA workforce, IT services, center operations at NASA facilities, as well as maintenance of infrastructure and adherence to construction and environmental regulations. Additionally, this budget discontinues several unfeasible missions and scales back less critical research efforts, leading to a more streamlined science portfolio that underscores our dedication to financial accountability,” states the official NASA website.
The reductions in Space Science funding would “end” the postponed and cost-overrun Mars sample return mission, according to the budget. Conversely, crewed missions to Mars might accomplish the same objective by the originally projected time frame in the 2030s, as per the budget projections.
Resistance against the budget reductions
On April 30, a group of 10 space advocacy organizations, including entities like the American Astronomical Society and The Mars Society, jointly addressed a letter to Congress voicing their “deep concern” over possible significant reductions in NASA’s scientific funding.
“The effects go well beyond spacecraft equipment. Such reductions would decimate space science research and analysis initiatives, debilitating university divisions, research organizations, and NASA facilities,” the letter stated.
“It could severely damage the country’s STEM talent pipeline, wiping out crucial training chances for future scientists and engineers and probably resulting in extensive job cuts among this high-skilled workforce across governmental and industrial sectors. Implementing this budget would have significant subsequent effects on America’s capability to develop advanced technologies, thereby affecting U.S. national security and economic growth,” the letter stated.
They expressed concerns about several domains, including planetary defense—this involves identifying and monitoring asteroids that might endanger our planet—and heliophysics, which aids in safeguarding satellites and communication systems against solar storms and various types of space weather.
On May 2, The Planetary Society issued a warning stating: Cutting NASA’s budget so drastically and swiftly, without the approval of a confirmed NASA administrator or as part of a carefully thought-out policy objective, will not enhance the efficiency of the agency; instead, it could lead to disorder, squander public funds, and diminish America’s dominance in space exploration.
NASA has already experienced some reductions. Early in March, the agency declared it would be shutting down its Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, as well as the Office of the Chief Scientist, along with a division focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, affecting 23 positions.
Brooke Edwards serves as a Space Reporter for Florida Today. You can reach her at
bedwards@Vmeetsolutions News
or on X:
@brookeofstars
.
The article initially appeared on Florida Today.
NASA’s SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and scientific programs face cuts under the proposed White House budget.