The future of space exploration and scientific research hangs in the balance as the US government considers canceling or cutting funding for several high-profile NASA missions. The White House has proposed a 47% cut to NASA’s science program, which would impact dozens of projects, including those studying asteroids, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon.
The Planetary Society spoke with experts behind some of the threatened missions, who shared their concerns about the implications of such drastic cuts. “Canceling these missions would forfeit our only in-flight opportunity to observe how Earth’s gravity affects an asteroid during its rare encounter,” said Daniella DellaGiustina, principal investigator for NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX mission.
The cancellation or reduction of funding for these missions could have far-reaching consequences, including lost insights into planetary defense strategies, the study of Venus and Mars’ atmospheres, and the potential for discovering life beyond Earth. “Venus is our twin planet, yet it has become a hellscape,” said Darby Dyar, deputy principal investigator for NASA’s VERITAS mission.
The impact of such cuts will be felt not only in the scientific community but also in terms of national security and economic growth. “Continuing NASA’s Juno mission is a strategic investment in planetary science, offering continued insights into the Jupiter system,” said Scott Bolton, principal investigator for the mission.
To avoid an extinction-level event, The Planetary Society is urging Congress to reject the White House’s plan and instead support NASA’s science program. By showing elected officials that space science and exploration matter, individuals can make a difference in preserving our nation’s leadership in this field.
Source: https://www.planetary.org/articles/scientists-behind-threatened-nasa-missions-explain-whats-at-stake