NASA planetary science budget woes

In summary, the 2013 sequestration did not greatly affect NASA, but the 2014 budget is expected to have a significant impact on the planetary sciences budget. There is a growing trend of shifting space exploration to the private sector, and there is opposition to funding pure science. Some suggest redirecting a small portion of the defense budget to science, but it is estimated that it would take a large percentage, if not more, to colonize the sun.
  • #1
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This is from last week (I was on vacation and then I worked like a dog to make up for the vacation):

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Nature news article on the subject: http://www.nature.com/news/nasa-funding-shuffle-alarms-planetary-scientists-1.14304
Eric Berger on the subject: http://blog.chron.com/sciguy/2013/1...netary-science-will-nasa-soon-stand-for-nada/

NASA escaped the 2013 sequestration without trimming too much substance. This will not be the case for 2014, with the planetary sciences budget appearing to be taking the greatest hit.
 
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  • #4
I wish the government would take just 1% of the defense budget and put it into science. With that much money, we could colonize the sun.
 
  • #5
Wrong.

The NSF alone has a budget about the size of 1% of Defense. That doesn't include NASA, DoE or NIH.
 
  • #6
Eh, honestly it's hard enough for scientists who work in areas where there should be jobs to find jobs, I find it a bit hard to sympathize with people who basically won the job lottery.

They'll just have to find real work like everyone else now...
 
  • #7
Vanadium 50 said:
Wrong.

The NSF alone has a budget about the size of 1% of Defense. That doesn't include NASA, DoE or NIH.

What percentage of it would we need to colonize the sun?
 
  • #8
leroyjenkens said:
What percentage of it would we need to colonize the sun?

Look at how much it cost just to colonize Afghanistan. Yeah we were fighting insurgents but that's probably easier than fighting the sun. Easily larger than 100% of the defense budget.
 

What is the current status of NASA's planetary science budget?

As of 2021, NASA's planetary science budget is facing significant challenges. The agency's budget has been relatively flat in recent years, and in 2021, it saw a decrease of around $200 million compared to the previous year.

Why is NASA's planetary science budget facing challenges?

There are several reasons for this, including the increasing cost of space missions, the focus on human spaceflight programs, and budget constraints overall. Additionally, there has been a shift in priorities towards exploration of the Moon and Mars, which has impacted the funding for planetary science missions.

What impact does the budget challenges have on NASA's planetary science missions?

The budget challenges have resulted in delays and cancellations of some planned missions, as well as reduced funding for existing missions. This can also lead to a slower pace of scientific discoveries and advancements in our understanding of the solar system.

How does NASA prioritize its planetary science budget?

NASA prioritizes its planetary science budget based on various factors, such as scientific merit, technological readiness, and strategic goals. The agency also considers input from the scientific community and the public when making budget decisions.

What can be done to address the budget woes for NASA's planetary science?

One solution could be to increase NASA's overall budget or allocate more funding specifically for planetary science. Another approach could be to collaborate with international partners to share the cost and resources for missions. Additionally, finding more efficient and cost-effective ways to conduct space missions could also help alleviate the budget woes.

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