NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) would propel astronauts and cargo into deep space, but its power is limited with only its base components in the budget. (Credit: NASA) NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine was at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday to talk about the proposed NASA budget for 2020. While Bridenstine referred to the Trump administration's proposed NASA budget as “strong,” and emphasized that funding for spaceflight exploration is high, the budget proposal also strikes funding from some missions. And, in total, it allocates $500 million less than what Congress appropriated for NASA last year. Congress, not the executive branch, holds the power to set funding levels. The White House's annual budget is a more of a policy statement about an administration's desired approach. And with NASA budgets, Congress's final funding levels often don't reflect an administration's proposals.
This year's proposal highlights NASA’s “Moon to Mars” program, providing funding ...
