Congress is poised to allocate billions more dollars to the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and its associated components, even as NASA’s science missions face potential reductions in funding.

Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have recommended a budget of approximately $25 billion for NASA in the next fiscal year (FY 24), aligning with the agency’s current funding in FY 23.

However, there is a notable emphasis on increasing the allocation for the Artemis program, which includes the SLS rocket and the Orion crew capsule, Tech Crunch reported.

Under the House bill, the Artemis program would receive $7.9 billion, while the Senate bill proposes $7.74 billion. These figures represent an increase of approximately $440 million compared to FY 2023 funding levels.

In contrast, science missions are facing potential cuts of a similar magnitude. The House recommendation sets a budget of $7.38 billion, whereas the FY 2023 funding stood at $7.79 billion.

The increased funding allocated to the Artemis program demonstrates Congress’s unwavering commitment to its mission architecture.

The Artemis program aims to return humans to the moon by 2025 and relies on the SLS rocket’s heavy-lift capabilities to transport a fully fueled and crewed capsule to lunar orbit.

Congress devised the SLS and Orion programs, drawing on NASA’s past endeavors and cost-saving measures, to fulfill this crucial role.

Written by staff