Thursday, May 02 2024 | Updated at 03:03 PM EDT

Stay Connected With Us F T R

Mar 17, 2017 02:07 PM EDT

Donald Trump appears to have no care for the welfare of our planet as he wants NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to focus on deep space explorations rather than on climate change.

The White House released this year's budget proposal last Thursday. In it, NASA may have to drop its trips to Europa, a nearby asteroid, and studies about the atmosphere above our own planet. Trump, on the contrary, seems to be focusing on Mars 2020 and Europa Clipper.

Trump budget & affected NASA programs

The Los Angeles Times reported that non-priority projects, like studies on climate change, may be halted due to a slight budget cut for NASA. Trump rather wants the agency to continue Mars 2020, a mission set to send a sample-collecting rover to the Red Planet. Also, the Europa Clipper might push through with its plan to fly a shuttle near Jupiter's icy moon.

The latter exploration aims to prove that liquid ocean exists in one of the satellites of the massive planet. Thus, NASA may verify that alien life is possible in it. Overall, the 2018 Trump budget blueprint cuts the funding from $19.3 billion to $19.1 billion. Reportedly, this is still quite better than the fate of other science-oriented organizations like the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency.

If NASA adopts the proposed budget from Trump, the Asteroid Redirect Mission may also be at risk. This controversial project plans to capture a large asteroid and bring it close to Earth. Nevertheless, all of the technologies already developed for the asteroid mission will be preserved for future use.

Trump hits on climate change research, cuts NASA budget

Per Gizmodo, Trump unveiled a total of $1.1 trillion funding draft for 2018. It slashed EPA funds by 31 percent and another 28 percent for State Department. It then zeroed out the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Endowment for the Arts. Meanwhile, he offered $54 billion in defense spending and cut the allocation for NASA.

While the NASA budget markdown is not that big, some major departments within the agency were still slashed. For example, the proposal from Trump will surely affect the Office of Education in a negative way. Unfortunately, it provides countless scholarships and internships to young scientists worldwide.

The Trump budget also targets environmental science and climate change research. NASA may need to eliminate OCO-3, an instrument used to monitor the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Other projects on the chopping board include the PACE (monitoring ocean health), CLARREO (projects future climate), and DSCOVR (a mission proposed by Al Gore).

See Now: Covert Team Inside Newsweek Revealed as Key Players in False Human Trafficking Lawsuit

Follows trump, nasa, donald trump, climate change, Mars 2020, Al Gore, Trump 2018 budget, NASA News
© 2024 University Herald, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Must Read

Common Challenges for College Students: How to Overcome Them

Oct 17, 2022 PM EDTFor most people, college is a phenomenal experience. However, while higher education offers benefits, it can also come with a number of challenges to ...

Top 5 Best Resources for Math Students

Oct 17, 2022 AM EDTMath is a subject that needs to be tackled differently than any other class, so you'll need the right tools and resources to master it. So here are 5 ...

Why Taking a DNA Test is Vital Before Starting a Family

Oct 12, 2022 PM EDTIf you're considering starting a family, this is an exciting time! There are no doubt a million things running through your head right now, from ...

By Enabling The Use Of Second-Hand Technology, Alloallo Scutter It's Growth While Being Economically And Environmentally Friendly.

Oct 11, 2022 PM EDTBrands are being forced to prioritise customer lifetime value and foster brand loyalty as return on advertising investment plummets. Several brands, ...