space

Jubilant return of Artemis II shadowed by ‘extinction-level’ cuts to Nasa: ‘It’s discordant’

Even as a triumphant moon flyby primes agency for a 2028 landing, Trump’s proposed budget cuts cast pall on US space program

Jubilant return of Artemis II shadowed by ‘extinction-level’ cuts to Nasa: ‘It’s discordant’

TL;DR

  • The Artemis II mission successfully returned astronauts to Earth after a lunar flyby, the first since 1972.
  • This mission represents a significant achievement for NASA, bolstering the US position in the new space race with China.
  • Donald Trump has proposed significant budget cuts to NASA, including a 23% reduction overall and a 46% cut to space science.
  • Critics argue that the proposed budget cuts are contradictory to NASA's stated goals and have been poorly constructed.
  • Despite these challenges, NASA is planning future missions, including Artemis III for a lunar landing in 2028.
  • The success of Artemis II provides crucial data and hardware for future deep space exploration.