NASA has unveiled its budget for 2025, maintaining the funding level at $25,383,700,000, consistent with allocations in 2023 and 2024.

While $25 billion may appear substantial, it accounts for less than 0.4 percent of the United States’ total expenditure for the upcoming year.

To put it in perspective, for every $100 spent by the U.S. government, NASA receives a mere 34 cents, while the Defense budget equates to $12.26.

In addition to the budget for 2025, NASA’s financial plan extends to proposed allocations up to 2029, offering glimpses into future priorities.

Notably, a significant adjustment that will impact high-energy astronomy departments is the gradual reduction in funding for the operation of the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

According to the proposed forecast, Chandra’s budget will undergo nearly a 50 percent decrease, plummeting from $41.1 million in 2025 to $26.6 million in 2026, IFL Science reported.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in July, Chandra has vastly exceeded its expected operational lifespan of five years, proving its worth through continuous delivery of high-resolution X-ray observations of the universe.

Despite the emergence of newer high-energy observatories, Chandra remains competitive. NASA’s projected outlook for 2029 anticipates a further reduction in the telescope’s budget to $5.2 million.

Written by B.C. Begley