A sharp dispute between Donald Trump and Elon Musk over a major spending bill has amplified uncertainties regarding NASA’s future budget, endangering U.S. scientific missions and the space program.
The space agency has submitted its budget request to Congress, which proposes deep cuts—nearly a halving—for scientific projects. Approximately 40 missions currently under development or already in orbit are expected to be suspended if the plan passes.
In a further escalation of tensions, President Trump has threatened to cancel federal contracts with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the primary supplier of Falcon 9 rockets for delivering crews and equipment to the International Space Station. Furthermore, NASA had planned to use SpaceX’s Starship rocket for missions to the Moon and eventually Mars, BBC reports.
Dr. Simeon Barber from the Open University expressed significant concerns about the impact of the created uncertainty: “The astonishing exchanges, hurried decisions, and 180-degree turns we’ve seen this last week undermine the very foundations upon which we build our ambitions,” he stated. According to him, space exploration relies on long-term planning and stable cooperation between government, industry, and academia—elements currently at risk.
