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"We're not shutting anything down at this point."

"NASA will pursue Earth science missions that will produce valuable data on natural hazards, groundwater, and environmental phenomena that support various industries and stakeholders."

"GISS [the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies] as an independent entity will not continue."

"Proposed FY 2026 cuts could end support for nearly 40 active and planned NASA science missions — many of them Earth-focused."

President Donald Trump's budget request to Congress would "wipe out years of research that helps us understand greenhouse gas emissions, plant health, and the forces that are driving climate change."

"It [the proposed budget cut] would also stunt NASA's ability to study our own planet: Earth science funding would drop by 53%."

Will Budget Cuts Force NASA To Scale Back Earth Science Missions?

NASA and Katalyst Space announced Wednesday that the LINK spacecraft will not capture or boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbit, citing ongoing attitude control issues that engineers were unable to resolve after weeks of efforts.

Donald Trump

NASA and Katalyst Space announced Wednesday that the LINK spacecraft will not capture or boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbit, citing ongoing attitude control issues that engineers were unable to resolve after weeks of efforts.

The LINK spacecraft launched July 3 aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific Ocean. It began spinning uncontrollably shortly after reaching orbit, with hardware faults affecting its orientation systems and thruster engines.

The LINK spacecraft launched July 3 aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific Ocean. It began spinning uncontrollably shortly after reaching orbit, with hardware faults affecting its orientation systems and thruster engines.

NASA awarded Katalyst Space a $30 million contract in September 2025 to build and launch LINK in under a year, after increased solar activity caused Swift's orbit to decay faster than expected.

NASA awarded Katalyst Space a $30 million contract in September 2025 to build and launch LINK in under a year, after increased solar activity caused Swift's orbit to decay faster than expected.

The Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts — described by NASA as the most powerful explosions in the universe — was originally designed for a two-year prime mission but operated for more than 21 years.

The Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts — described by NASA as the most powerful explosions in the universe — was originally designed for a two-year prime mission but operated for more than 21 years.

Without a successful orbital boost, Swift is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up later this year. NASA said it will rely on other active observatories to help fill the gap in high-energy cosmic observations left by the telescope.

Without a successful orbital boost, Swift is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up later this year. NASA said it will rely on other active observatories to help fill the gap in high-energy cosmic observations left by the telescope.

NASA and Katalyst plan to proceed with a scaled-back rendezvous demonstration, with LINK approaching Swift to test proximity operations. Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee said the company aims to build "a repeatable playbook to inform future rendezvous and proximity operations and satellite servicing."

NASA and Katalyst plan to proceed with a scaled-back rendezvous demonstration, with LINK approaching Swift to test proximity operations. Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee said the company aims to build "a repeatable playbook to inform future rendezvous and proximity operations and satellite servicing."

NASA calls off risky mission to save falling satellite

NASA calls off risky mission to save falling satellite

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NASA calls off risky mission to save falling satellite

NASA calls off risky mission to save falling satellite

The Controversies

Clampin

Appropriations

Koss

Morisette

Elrich

University

Go Deeper

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