NASA Wins Big as Senate Backs Science Funding, Protects Artemis and Exploration

NASA’s biggest headline this week is the U.S. Senate’s dramatic rejection of deep proposed cuts to NASA’s science programs, instead approving a bipartisan budget that not only preserves but slightly increases NASA funding for fiscal year 2025. According to the recent Senate Appropriations hearing, the new bill commits $24.9 billion to NASA, which is a notch above last year’s budget. This protects flagship programs like Artemis, the Space Launch System, and Orion, as well as critical science missions that advance our understanding of Earth and space. The Senate’s move specifically blocks a White House proposal that would have slashed NASA’s science budget by 47% and forced the cancellation of 41 active and planned missions—potentially ending research into climate change, planetary science, and even turning off long-running spacecraft exploring our solar system and beyond.

For American citizens, this decision means continued investment in cutting-edge research, new technologies, and the high-paying jobs that come with them. Senator Shelby, speaking during the hearing, emphasized, “This bill protects key science missions fundamental to furthering our understanding of the Earth and ensures critical investments to accelerate our plans to land Americans on the lunar surface before the Chinese, and to advance toward Mars.” For businesses, especially those in the private space sector, the Senate’s focus on Artemis and lunar exploration offers steady demand for innovation and commercial partnerships. Commercial contracts for crew and cargo missions, as seen with the growing role of companies like SpaceX and Axiom Space, provide new market opportunities and drive down costs for both NASA and private partners, promoting U.S. leadership in the global space industry.

Under the new plan, NASA is also moving forward with new science initiatives. Just this month, NASA confirmed the discovery of a rare interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS, using the agency-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Chile. This comet, which will pass near Mars’ orbit this October but poses no threat to Earth, offers astronomers worldwide a unique chance for study and international cooperation, underscoring NASA’s role as a global scientific leader.

Looking ahead, NASA is preparing for the undocking and return of the Axiom Mission 4 private astronaut crew from the International Space Station, hosting a public teleconference on the upcoming TRACERS mission, and inviting students nationwide to interact with astronauts live from orbit. The agency continues to update its Vision for Scientific Excellence, highlighting ways citizens and experts can provide input on priorities as NASA shapes its next four-year plan.

For those who want to make their voices heard, the Planetary Society and other advocacy groups are organizing outreach for continued investment in space science. You can contact your representatives, attend public NASA events, or share your support on social media to reinforce the importance of these missions.

Keep an eye on NASA’s upcoming media calls, new mission launches, and chances to engage with astronauts. For more, visit NASA’s official website or follow their news releases online. Thanks for tuning in to today’s update on America’s journey to the stars. Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest, and share your thoughts on why space exploration matters to you. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
NASA's biggest headline this week is the US Senate's dramatic
rejection of deep proposed cuts to NASA's science programs, instead
approving a bipartisan budget that not only preserves but slightly
increases NASA funding for fiscal year twenty twenty five. According
to the recent Senate Appropriations hearing, the new bill commits
twenty four dollars and nine cents to NASA, which is

(00:22):
a notch above last year's budget. This protects flagship programs
like Artemis, the Space Launch System, and Orion, as well
as critical science missions that advance our understanding of Earth
and space. The Senate's move specifically blocks a White House
proposal that would have slashed NASA's science budget by forty
seven percent and forced the cancelation of forty one active

(00:43):
and planned missions, potentially ending research into climate change, planetary science,
and even turning off long running spacecraft exploring our Solar
System and beyond. For American citizens, this decision means continued
investment in cutting edge research, new technologies, and the high
paying jobs that come with them. Senator Shelby, speaking during

(01:03):
the hearing, emphasized this bill protects key science missions fundamental
to furthering our understanding of the Earth and ensures critical
investments to accelerate our plans to land Americans on the
lunar's surface before the Chinese and to advance toward Mars.
For businesses, especially those in the private space sector, the
Senate's focus on Artemis and lunar exploration offers steady demand

(01:26):
for innovation and commercial partnerships. Commercial contracts for crew and
cargo missions, as seen with the growing role of companies
like SpaceX and Axiom Space, provide new market opportunities and
drive down costs for both NASA and private partners, promoting
US leadership in the global space industry. Under the new Plan,
NASA is also moving forward with new science initiatives. Just

(01:49):
this month, NASA confirmed the discovery of a rare interstellar
commet three IATLS, using the agency funded Atlas Survey telescope
in Chile. This comment, which will pass near Mars's orbit
this October but poses no threat to Earth, offers astronomers
worldwide a unique chance for study and international cooperation, underscoring

(02:12):
NASA's role as a global scientific leader. Looking ahead, NASA
is preparing for the undocking and return of the Axiom
mission for private astronaut crew from the International Space Station,
hosting a public teleconference on the upcoming Tracers mission, and
inviting students nationwide to interact with astronauts live from orbit.

(02:33):
The agency continues to update its vision for Scientific Excellence,
highlighting ways citizens and experts can provide input on priorities
as NASA shapes its next four year plan. For those
who want to make their voices heard, the Planetary Society
and other advocacy groups are organizing outreach for continued investment

(02:53):
in space science. You can contact your representatives, attend public
NASA events, or share your support on social media To
reinforce the importance of these missions. Keep an eye on
NASA's upcoming media calls, new mission launches, and chances to
engage with astronauts. For more, visit NASA's official website or
follow their news releases online. Thanks for tuning in to

(03:16):
today's update on America's Journey to the Stars. Don't forget
to subscribe for the latest and share your thoughts on
why space exploration matters to you. This has been a
quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please dot
Ai