NASA is planning to cut costs by finding the cheapest way to maintain its Landsat capabilities, despite not having a confirmed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 yet. The agency has established an independent team to advise on options to reduce costs, which aligns with President’s Budget Request but contradicts Congressional appropriators’ language. Congress had previously complained about this approach during last month’s NASA Town Hall Meeting.
The Mission Alternatives Assessment Team (MAAT) is seeking information from potential sources to meet the minimum observational capabilities of Landsat-9. However, the approach has sparked criticism, with many arguing that it could damage the program irreparably and lead to a loss of access to high-quality Earth observation data.
Congress had provided $183 million for the Landsat Next Mission in its latest budget proposal, which included maintaining the current superspectral three-satellite constellation architecture. If NASA adopts the cheaper alternative, it may result in a loss of data continuity and affect its ability to provide accurate information for scientific research, environmental monitoring, resource management, and disaster response.
The move has also raised concerns about the impact on international cooperation and competition, with some countries like ESA and China potentially gaining an advantage.
Source: https://nasawatch.com/earth-science/nasa-prepares-to-gut-its-landsat-capabilities