US Senate To Increase NASA's Budget In Fiscal Year 2025

The Senate will add a budget for NASA (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA Leaders of the Senate Allocation Subcommittee plan to increase the NASA budget to support the Artemis program. This plan will be discussed at the Committee meeting on July 25. Reporting from Spacenews, the Senate Allocation Committee will discuss the Draft Law (RUU) on Expenditure, Trade, Justice and Science (CJS) for the fiscal year 2025. The increase in proposed funds will be considered by the entire committee members. "We are very pleased to have reached an agreement on our bill," said CJS Allocation Subcommittee Chair, Senator Jeanne Shaheen. "We have increased funding for NASA." Shaheen did not explain whether this increase in funds was in accordance with NASA's request. The space agency received 24.875 billion US dollars (Rp403 trillion) for fiscal year 2024 and they submitted 25.4 billion US dollars (Rp411 trillion) for fiscal year 2025.

Although they did not mention how much money they would add, Shaheen explained that this increase in funds was a form of support for all NASA programs, including the Moon's exploration mission through the Artemis mission. "I would like to emphasize that in last year's budget bill and this year's budget bill, my aim and others is to ensure that Artemis is protected and our plan to land on the moon is advanced," Shaheen explained. Shaheen also touched on the very serious competition with China. The country plans to land astronauts on the Moon by the end of this year and the US does not want to be preceded. Therefore, they will fully support Artemis' mission through increased funds.