Following the results of the presidential election, I'm sure many of you are wondering how planetary exploration will fare at NASA over the next few years.
The short answer is that no one knows.
However, I can discuss some of the factors that may decide that question.
The key thing will be how well the program is funded. Depending on how the political machinations play out, I can see situations where the planetary program could receive substantially less, about the same, or substantially more than it receives this year.
If total federal spending decreases, spending on NASA will likely decrease as well.
![]() |
Source: Wikipedia |
Whatever NASA's top funding figure emerges, I suspect the planetary program will retain or potentially increase its share of that budget. Exploration of the solar system has had strong support from Congress, most notably from Congressman Culberson of Texas, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies. Furthermore, based on the scientific priorities stated by both President-elect Trump and Republicans in Congress, NASA's program to study Earth is likely to suffer significant cuts and the planetary program will benefit. (For the record, I strongly oppose cuts to the Earth Sciences program.
Humans are dramatically changing our planet, whether looking at rising greenhouse gases, the nitrogen cycle, or transforming entire ecosystems, to name just a few.
Ignoring these changes is like pretending that your illness will go away if you don't get medical tests.)
Personally, I expect the status quo to persist over the next year as the new administration and Congress settle in. I hope we begin to learn how NASA as a whole and the planetary program within that whole will fare starting in 2018. Given the delay in budgets and eventual mission launches, the final annual budget figures for the next four years will determine the mid-2020s planetary program.
Leave feedback about this