Overview

• President Trump's FY 2026 budget proposal cuts NASA's funding by $6 billion, a 24% reduction, while boosting Mars-focused programs by $1 billion.
• The Artemis lunar program faces potential delays or cancellation, with funding redirected toward human exploration of Mars and commercial partnerships.
• NASA is evaluating 2026 and 2028 Mars launch windows, aligning with the administration's goal of landing humans on the Red Planet.
• The European Space Agency is assessing the impact of the cuts on joint projects, including Artemis and Mars Sample Return missions.
• Critics, including lawmakers, scientists, and industry groups, warn the cuts risk undermining U.S. leadership in space exploration and ceding ground to China.