WASHINGTON — The co-chairman of the most recent decennial survey of Earth science warned that NASA is making “difficult choices” between continuing current missions and starting new missions given limited funding.
At a Jan. 17 meeting of NASA’s Advisory Board, Waleed Abdalati, a board member and NASA’s former chief scientist, said several factors have resulted in budget pressure for the program. of the agency’s Earth science and that the decennial survey’s recommendations for dealing with funding issues are largely exhausted.
“It is quite clear that the resources are not and will not be available to fully implement the planned program,” he said. “Options delay planned missions or end extended missions.”
He identified several factors that cause this challenge. They include supply chain and workforce issues related to the pandemic, a spending bill for fiscal year 2023 that cut Earth science by more than $200 million from the agency’s request, and the outlook of a long-term continuing resolution in fiscal year 2024 that would close. spending at 2023 levels.
His comments come as NASA prepares for a senior review of extended Earth science missions later this year that will examine the scientific productivity of about 15 missions, some in operation for more than 20 years, and balance that against the cost to maintain its function. NASA officials have already warned that they probably don’t have the funding to extend them all.
“The senior review is not going to be easy this year,” said Julie Robinson, deputy director of NASA’s Earth science division, during a town hall at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union in December. “We don’t have the money in the budget to extend every mission that comes to senior review.”
At the same time, NASA is planning to step up work on a series of missions called the Earth System Observatory that will deploy the main “designated observers” recommended by the decadal survey. An independent review last fall, co-chaired by Abdalati with another former NASA official, Geoff Yoder, warned of rising costs on the largest of these missions, the Atmospheric Observing System .
“There’s a tension, though, between what you’re doing that’s new versus what you’re advocating that’s already flown,” Abdalati said.
Abdalati was a co-chairman of the ten-year survey, released five years ago, which recommended those designated observers and other missions. Anticipating the potential for budget problems, the decade included several “decision rules” to guide NASA. Including delaying missions or reducing the number of competing missions.
Those options, he said, have been exhausted. “NASA has exercised all of these options and resource challenges still remain,” he said. Additional options could involve further delays of Earth System Observatory missions or smaller competing missions, as well as ending current missions.
Another option, he suggested, would be to accept a higher risk on new missions to reduce their cost, but he warned that approach has drawbacks. “From a climate perspective, the cost of not succeeding, of taking those additional risks, is very high, because you lose time. You don’t just lose a measurement, you lose time, much needed time.”
Abdalati said the National Academies are preparing for a midterm review of the Earth science decade that could offer NASA additional advice on how to balance that report’s recommendations with current missions given available funding. “But, at the end of the day, it is quite clear that not everything can be done, and there will need to be an assessment of what is not done now.”
Is NASA a government contractor?
NASA or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent organization of the United States federal government that controls the space industry by conducting programs of civil space technology, aeronautical research, space research and advanced systems of engineering.
What department is NASA in? NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) | The United States Department of the Interior. On the same subject : Two were killed, two were injured in sports at Columbus’ Hilltop.
Who is NASA contractor?
Northrop Grumman is one of the world’s largest contractors with a long history of working with NASA. In fact, the company is also a prime contractor for Apollo 13.
How many contractors does NASA have?
The JSC civil service workforce consists of approximately 3,000 employees, most of whom are professional engineers and scientists. Of these, about 110 are astronauts. To see also : US spending on video games fell 13 percent in the second quarter, says NPD. Contractor Jobs Approximately 50 companies provide contractor personnel to JSC.
Are NASA Contractors government employees?
Ultimately, there are two types of employees at NASA – civil servants, or those who are directly employed by the government, and commercial contractors, who are employed by companies funded by government contracts to do work for NASA. On the same subject : Travel prices only increase around holidays. Book now.. .
What is the salary of NASA?
Average annual salary in Nasa is 64.9 lakhs INR. Salary estimates are based on the latest 44 Nasa salaries received by various Nasa employees.
Are NASA engineers well paid? The average NASA aerospace engineer in the United States earns $177,782. Nasa aerospace engineers make the most in San Francisco, CA at $267,555, an average total compensation 50% greater than the US average.
What is the starting salary in NASA?
What is the minimum wage in Nasa? The minimum salary at NASA depends on the role you are applying for. For Partner the minimum salary is ¹ 3.0 Lakhs per annum, for Senior Administration Officer the minimum salary is ¹ 22.0 Lakhs per annum and so on.
Do NASA scientists get paid well?
The estimated total pay for a Research Scientist at NASA is $137,605 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our own Total Pay estimation model and based on the salaries collected by our users. Estimated base pay is $123,102 per year.
Who gives funding to NASA?
Is NASA part of the military budget? None of NASA’s budget is used for national defense or intelligence gathering programs; is a civilian agency responsible for the peaceful exploration of space.
Is NASA funded by tax payers?
As a federal agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) receives its funding from the annual federal budget passed by the United States Congress.
How much does a NASA employee make?
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) pays its employees an average of $96,539 per year. Salaries at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) range from an average of $61,289 to $150,271 per year.
Is it hard to get a job at NASA? Although there are many opportunities to apply, it is still difficult to get a job in NASA. If you want to get a job in NASA, you need to have high academic qualifications and different experiences. NASA employs more than just astronauts.
How much do NASA janitors make?
$42,822. The estimated total pay for a Janitor at NASA is $42,822 per year.
What is the starting salary in NASA?
What is the minimum wage in Nasa? The minimum salary at NASA depends on the role you are applying for. For Partner the minimum salary is ¹ 3.0 Lakhs per annum, for Senior Administration Officer the minimum salary is ¹ 22.0 Lakhs per annum and so on.
What is the highest paying job at NASA?
| Classification | Job title | Average salary NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Leader | $119,174 |
| 2 | Contracting Officer | $95,008 |
| 3 | Mentor | $94,941 |
| 4 | Program Manager | $91,445 |
