NYT: flying NASA astronauts to the moon will not take place under the rule of trump
NEW YORK, February 12. /TASS./ The return of American astronauts to the moon is one of the “space priorities” of U.S. President Donald trump, but this flight to the satellite of the Earth will not take place during his stay in the White house, even if trump will be re-elected for a second term.
This was reported in the Sunday newspaper The New York Times, familiar with the project of the budget of the United States for the 2019 fiscal year, the administration will publish on Monday.
From this project, according to the publication, it follows that the current administration intends to give the private sector a greater role in space exploration, including missions to the moon and funding for the ISS, which is Washington going to stop the line NASA after 2024.
From the newspaper obtained documents to NASA, it follows that the White house is going to allocate space Agency in 2019 fiscal year (starts in the US October 1) of $19.9 billion, down $370 million more than the funding request of the Agency in 2018. However, in subsequent years, the administration plans to cut the NASA budget to $19.6 billion and leave it unchanged until 2023.
Adjusted for inflation the Agency’s ability will decline, and the flight of astronauts to the moon “will not take place until he [trump] will not leave office even if he wins re-election”, said the newspaper.