NASA is preparing to implement deep cuts to its International Space Station (ISS) program in advance of an actual budget. Despite having no real budget, the agency has already asked staff to reduce their workload and is planning a 50% reduction in ISS science funding. The proposed budget, dubbed “the skinny” FY 2026 White House proposal, calls for reducing the space station’s crew size and onboard research.
Starting with the Crew 12 flight next year, NASA plans to limit its astronauts on the ISS to just three, down from the current six-person crews. This reduction in crew will lead to reduced operations budgets and science funding, resulting in a significant decrease in the amount of scientific research being conducted on the space station. The cuts are expected to last for four years, until the eventual deorbiting of the ISS by SpaceX.
NASA’s budget proposal also suggests that the remaining science funding will be focused on efforts critical to the Moon and Mars exploration programs, but it does not provide clear details on what these initiatives entail or how they will be supported.
The cuts have already begun with staff reductions in key areas such as payload operations and flight operations. However, some experts argue that preserving the payload ops capability at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is crucial for future commercial space stations and crewed Mars missions.
NASA’s leadership has been criticized for its lack of transparency on these plans, which has led to concerns about the agency’s ability to manage the ISS program effectively.
Source: https://nasawatch.com/iss-news/large-space-station-cuts-planned-before-a-real-budget-exists