NASA has opted to decelerate its Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission due to uncertainties surrounding its budget for the upcoming year. This decision by the US space agency has faced criticism from both political parties in the United States, with accusations of being “short-sighted and misguided.” Detractors also contend that NASA’s swift move could result in job losses in California.
The MSR mission, proposed by NASA, aims to collect rock and dust samples from the Martian soil, as gathered by the Perseverance rover. Initially slated to commence in 2026, the mission intended to bring all collected data back to Earth by 2033. However, the estimated budget for the program has experienced a significant surge, and with uncertainties surrounding congressional approval for a full-year budget, NASA initiated a slowdown of the program in early November.
US lawmakers are expressing dissatisfaction with NASA’s proactive decision to trim funding for the program, urging the space agency to reconsider and await a more comprehensive solution. In a letter addressed to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, six California lawmakers emphasized the need to revoke the decision, highlighting that it could result in the loss of hundreds of jobs and a decade’s worth of scientific progress.
The letter, shared by POLITICO, stated, “This short-sighted and misguided decision by NASA will cost hundreds of jobs and a decade of lost science, and it flies in the face of congressional authority. We are mystified by NASA’s rash decision to suggest at this stage of the appropriations process that any cuts would be necessary.”
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