NASA's proposed budget cuts could potentially prompt ESA to cancel or put on hold its future space missions.
The European Space Agency (ESA) isn't shying away from slimming down or freezing some of its space exploration projects if the US Congress agrees to proposed budget cuts for NASA.
The ESA is keeping a close eye on potential reductions to 19 European space research programs that supply essential technologies to American Moon missions, as outlined in NASA's 2026 technical budget request. The bill is still under consideration, with a possible approval this autumn.
Josef Aschbacher, ESA's director general, emphasized to journalists that the council is assessing the potential repercussions of possible NASA budget cuts and exploring ways to manage investments made by member states effectively. Although no cuts or cancellations are imminent until the US finalizes its stance, ESA will be ready and well-prepared to respond regardless of Congress's decision.
19 research projects could potentially be affected by the proposed NASA budget cuts. Carole Mundell, ESA's director of science, revealed that with collaboration from international partners, most of these projects can be saved. However, three exceptions include the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), Envision, and NewAthena.
LISA is a space probe that measures gravitational waves, while Envision is ESA's first mission to Venus, studying its atmospheres. NewAthena, the world's largest X-ray observatory, is pending approval by the ESA council but is expected to pass in 2027.
ESA also supplies NASA with essential parts for its NASA-led Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon's surface since the 1960s. ESA manufactures European Space Modules (ESMs) that provide power and oxygen to Orion, NASA's chosen spacecraft for the Artemis lunar missions. Additionally, ESA oversees Europe's lunar lander program, Argonaut, and contributes three critical elements for Gateway, the first international space station around the Moon.
Proposed changes to the NASA budget indicate sustained funding for the Artemis II mission in early 2026 and Artemis III in 2027. However, future missions might cancel the Gateway and retire Orion in favor of a more sustainable and cost-effective lunar exploration strategy.
Despite potential cuts, ESA continues to fulfill its contracts with NASA concerning Gateway and ESMs. In the event of cuts, Argonaut and European capabilities would still support ESA missions. ESA is now investigating with industry how some replacement technologies could be developed in the EU.
For instance, the Rosalind Franklin ExoMars Rover mission, an ESA program that extracts samples from Mars' surface for further study, relies on three components supplied by NASA, including the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) and an americium radioisotope heater unit (RHU) to power the rover. Both technologies are not currently produced in Europe, but engagement is starting to build them. The RHU can also be used for future ESA lunar surface exploration missions.
While ESA may collaborate with other partners like the Canadian Space Agency for the short term, the ultimate goal is to construct the necessary technology in Europe.
- The European Space Agency (ESA) is examining ways to manage their investments in education-and-self-development areas, such as the Rosalind Franklin ExoMars Rover mission, should the US Congress approve NASA's proposed budget cuts, as they seek to develop replacement technologies in the EU.
- In light of potential reductions to 19 European space research programs that supply technology to American Moon missions, the ESA is also considering the impact on general-news ventures like casino-and-gambling, but thus far, no changes have been announced as the US finalizes its stance on the budget cuts.
