For decades, industry has lamented NASA’s lack of emphasis on its first “A,” aeronautics. Now, as the agency’s fiscal year 2006 budget request is transmitted to Congress for action, comes evidence that industry was right all along. While space exploration got a boost in funding from $2.684 billion last year to $3.165 billion, the agency’s aeronautics budget has been placed on a descent for the next five fiscal years. NASA is requesting “only” $852.3 million for its aeronautics function in the next fiscal year, which is down from the $906.2 million it was allocated in FY 2005. Of that total, some $193 million is earmarked for aviation safety and security with $200 million slated to be used for ATC research. By FY 2010, the agency’s budget for aeronautics research is slated to decline to $717.6 million.
NASA Budget Cuts Aeronautics
Key Takeaways:
- NASA's FY2006 budget request shows a significant shift in priorities, increasing funding for space exploration while decreasing it for aeronautics.
- The agency's aeronautics budget is projected to decline steadily over the next five fiscal years, from $906.2 million in FY2005 to an anticipated $717.6 million by FY2010.
- Conversely, space exploration received a substantial funding boost from $2.684 billion to $3.165 billion for FY2006.
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