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 significantly boosts funding for space exploration while decreasing allocations for aeronautics research.
- The aeronautics budget is set to decline from $906.2 million in FY2005 to $852.3 million in FY2006, with a projected further decrease to $717.6 million by FY2010.
- Within the FY2006 aeronautics budget, $193 million is earmarked for aviation safety and security, and $200 million for air traffic control (ATC) research.
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