An Extraordinary Budget for NASA in 2016

[F-22Raptor]

After months of delay, Congress unveiled its plans for funding the federal government in 2016. Assuming this legislation passes into law without major modifications, NASA will fare extraordinarily well. The space agency is set to receive $19.3 billion—nearly $1.3 billion more than it did last year. This is the same top-line level we proposed back in October. I called it the "everybody wins" scenario.

So, did everybody win? Almost. Here are some highlights.

Planetary Science

Since 2012, The Planetary Society has been working to reverse the crippling spending cuts proposed, year after year, by the White House. Our goal: restore the budget to at least $1.5 billion per year (the recent historical average) in order to address the top scientific priorities in our solar system. I'm very pleased to report that, in 2016, Congress will provide $1.631 billion for NASA's Planetary Science Division. That's nearly $270 million above the President's request, which would have cut the program from last year (again).

That money allows both the MER Opportunity rover and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to continue science operations (both were zeroed out in the President's budget proposal). It provides $175 million for the new Europa mission and an additional $25 million for “icy satellites surface technology” development. It directs NASA to develop a lander for Europa. The Mars 2020 rover gets an additional $22 million to keep the project on track. The Discovery (small-class) mission line gets a boost, and Plutonium-238 production is fully funded at $15 million.

This is just a fantastic number for the Planetary Science Division. Planetary Society members sent over 120,000 messages to Congress and the White House this year asking for this increase. And after a year of stunning successes by NASA spacecraft at Pluto, Ceres, and Mars, this increase is well earned. To everyone who took the time to write and call: thank you.

Commercial Crew

NASA was pushing this one, hard. It had requested $1.243 billion to keep both Boeing's CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX's Dragon V2 on track for 2017. From the NASA Administrator to astronauts on the space station, the message was consistent: we need this amount to stay on track. They got it. $1.243 billion for Commercial Crew in 2016.

The Space Launch System (SLS)

Here's what a real congressional priority looks like. The President requested $1.36 billion. Congress will spend $2 billion. That's a $640 million increase above the request for what will be NASA's most powerful rocket since the Saturn V. The SLS was also baselined as the launch vehicle for the future Europa mission.

Earth Science

The Earth Science Division at NASA is funded at $1.921 billion. That's less than the President's request, though it still represents a $149 million increase over last year's budget.

Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)

This perennially underfunded mission directorate stands to receive $686 million. That’s $39 million shy of the President’s request, though it represents a $90 million increase over last year’s amount. However, an earmark directs $133 million of the STMD’s budget to be spent on the RESTORE-L satellite servicing project, a program moved over from the International Space Station budget line that will more than consume the increase to STMD this year.

What's Next

This bill is referred to as “omnibus” because it mushes together what would have been twelve separate pieces of legislation into a single, 2,000 page epic. Essentially every part of the government that is not Social Security or health care is funded by this omnibus bill. And if this bill can't get signed into law, the federal government has no money to spend, and the government shuts down. Hence this bill is considered a “must-pass” piece of legislation.

Knowing this, members of Congress attach unrelated policy statements in the bill that, while divisive, are not bad enough to sink the passage of the entire bill. Knowing how many policy riders you can get away with is a fine line to walk, and it was one reasons this bill was in negotiations for so long. Do not be surprised if you read about these policy riders in the next few days. It's one of the reasons why omnibus legislation is generally a bad idea.

However, the fact that this bill being released to the public and being readied for a vote means that the Congressional leadership believes they have the votes necessary to pass the thing. That's no guarantee, but better chances than not. The White House has indicated that it will sign the bill as it currently stands.

The vote is not yet scheduled, but it is likely to occur on Thursday or Friday of this week.

An Extraordinary Budget for NASA in 2016 | The Planetary Society

 

[anon45]

heard there is a poison pill in the bill regarding expansion of NSA powers that Obama said he would veto. Don't celebrate yet...

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

heard there is a poison pill in the bill regarding expansion of NSA powers that Obama said he would veto. Don't celebrate yet...

Republicans could have added cuts to Obamacare and Planned Parenthood with this bill. I think Democrats also add extra funding for Obamacare and Planned Parenthood with Republican favored bills. Once I was also supporter of Republican Party but now they have moved so right wing that it's unbelievable.

 

[anon45]

it easily passed house and senate, lets see if Obama signs. If so great day for NASA.

 

[Audio]

The Space Launch System (SLS)

Here's what a real congressional priority looks like. The President requested $1.36 billion. Congress will spend $2 billion. That's a $640 million increase above the request for what will be NASA's most powerful rocket since the Saturn V. The SLS was also baselined as the launch vehicle for the future Europa mission.

Very nice in regards to the budget. However i feel i need to clarify this candy train of thought in the paragraph as it has very little to do with budget makers' aspirations for the stars and the implied desire for space exploration

SLS is scattered among as many of the senator's states as it's possible, which was one of the reasons the programme procrastinated for quite some time, as everyone wanted to bring as much production work to their state as possible.

It is no wonder they decided to give more than the required amount under this plan as whatever they assign to themselves will be easily repaid with interest (political capital) when election time comes and incumbent senator/governor get's to say "Look how many space jobs i managed to keep in <insert random US state>.

 

[Solomon2]

SLS is scattered among as many of the senator's states as it's possible, which was one of the reasons the programme procrastinated for quite some time, as everyone wanted to bring as much production work to their state as possible.

True, the work could be done a lot more efficiently if it weren't so spread out. And yet....the space program, especially the non-Earth Science stuff, isn't a commercial or defense or weather-forecasting project but an expression of the American people. As such, shouldn't it have as wide a participation as possible? And who better to determine that than the U.S. Congress?

 

[Audio]

True, the work could be done a lot more efficiently if it weren't so spread out. And yet....the space program, especially the non-Earth Science stuff, isn't a commercial or defense or weather-forecasting project but an expression of the American people. As such, shouldn't it have as wide a participation as possible? And who better to determine that than the U.S. Congress?

Is this sarcasm?
If not, you need to do some reading (below links are pretty good for this purpose, 2nd especially is very interesting), as the uber patriot tone you're going with is at odds with reality that SLS was an underfunded programme for all it's life and whatever crumbs there were, were squabbled over for years.....so long the term "Senate Launch System" (pun on SLS-official name of programme) was coined.
It is not just that efficiency was (will be is more the operative word here) lost due to fragmented production, what was to be produced and where was also the reason for much of the delays.

Senators Disagree On Space Launch System Approach | AWIN content from Aviation Week

The Senate Launch System? - How the Space Launch System Will Work

Lets not even talk about the notion that SLS is a mere consolation prize for all the projects that were cancelled, namely Constellation programme.

 

[Solomon2]

Is this sarcasm?

No. I used to think the same way as you, that the spending should be efficient. But there's no Constitutional requirement for the American people to spend money on space exploration.

To underscore this every year during the Congressional budgeting process NASA's proposals are set against social priorities like low-income housing. Money spent to live in space is money that could have been spent on living space.

Once NASA develops something really useful like weather or communication satellites it's either privatized or transferred to another branch of government. And today commercial companies are developing space launchers, some without government help, so the debate over whether or not and if so how NASA should develop new heavy-lift is a good one.

NASA does not exist solely for its employees and contractors or the industries it serves. No, NASA is a creature of shared dreams.

 

[Audio]

No. I used to think the same way as you, that the spending should be efficient. But there's no Constitutional requirement for the American people to spend money on space exploration.

To underscore this every year during the Congressional budgeting process NASA's proposals are set against social priorities like low-income housing. Money spent to live in space is money that could have been spent on living space.

Once NASA develops something really useful like weather or communication satellites it's either privatized or transferred to another branch of government. And today commercial companies are developing space launchers, some without government help, so the debate over whether or not and if so how NASA should develop new heavy-lift is a good one.

NASA does not exist solely for its employees and contractors or the industries it serves. No, NASA is a creature of shared dreams.

Oh please......
From the patriotic BS to this now, "money isn't there, needed for free 'Bama phone". But when it was time to save the banks for amounts exceeding NASA budget 100 fold, that was np.

There's like three possible answers to your post, each one making more sense than what you wrote, but since it would be a waste of time, I ask of you to not quote me again on subjects you know very little of (space budgets, cancelled programmes, space history in general) and your penchant to operate with pseudo moral and ethical constraints while you don't know how to apply them to matters about which you know nothing or at best, not enough of, is irritating.

 

[Solomon2]

Oh please......
From the patriotic BS to this now, "money isn't there, needed for free 'Bama phone". But when it was time to save the banks for amounts exceeding NASA budget 100 fold, that was np.

Sorry, don't understand.

There's like three possible answers to your post, each one making more sense than what you wrote, but since it would be a waste of time, I ask of you to not quote me again on subjects you know very little of (space budgets, cancelled programmes, space history in general)

Wow, you've really made my day!

- and your penchant to operate with pseudo moral and ethical constraints while you don't know how to apply them to matters about which you know nothing or at best, not enough of, is irritating.

You'll have to cite specifics, sir.

 

[Pulsar]

What happens to the Moon project? Aren't they going back? Establishing a Moon base should be a priority as it is a stepping stone for manned missions to Mars later. And then there's Helium. Nothing can match the potential of a gas Helium-3 (He-3). It has the potential to solve the world's energy problems at a stroke. Experts reckon one 40-tonne consignment of helium-3, for example, could satisfy the entire power needs of the US for a year.

According to scientists, generating power via nuclear fusion using He-3 from the Moon could solve the world's energy demand for 10,000 years at least!

Is it that private firms will be footing the bill to mine the Moon?

 

[Ankit Kumar]

20 Billion Dollars for space, now that's what a super rich super power can do.

 

[Audio]

Sorry, don't understand.

I know....