Science is under the blow of inflation: NASA has cut the budget of Hubble and threatens Webb with the same

It has become known that NASA is demanding a reduction in funding for the Hubble space observatory by 20% or more. Similar problems may arise at the James Webb Observatory this October when new space agency budgets are approved. Experts urge us to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst: inflation is eating up science funding faster than the authorities can compensate for it.

Image source: NASA

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), which manages space observatories, said NASA has commissioned plans to develop Hubble operations plans for fiscal years 2026 to 2028, based on a budget of $83 million to $87.8 million. year. This is a budget cut of more than 20%, and when adjusted for inflation, it will be an even greater blow to Hubble and its associated observing programs.

Hubble is now 35 years old and has only one gyroscope left in working order, which is used to target and stabilize the observatory. However, this does not reduce the value of this tool. According to scientists, requests for observations exceed the actual operating time of the observatory by six times. Reducing support and operating costs threatens to have catastrophic consequences: the dismissal of specialists who know how to cope with critical situations and an increase in the risk of irretrievable loss of Hubble.

For fiscal year 2025, NASA is committing $89 million to Hubble. For most of the 2010s, funding averaged $98.3 million per year, with an average of $93.8 million from fiscal years 2020 to 2024. This amount decreases to account for inflation. would actually reduce Hubble’s budget by more than 30%. All telescope financing scenarios for 2025 are still at the draft stage. Experts hope that additional funds will still be allocated. They also count on the support of Congress and the authorities, who may prohibit NASA from saving on space observations. After all, if the situation is not corrected, cost cuts may also affect the newest James Webb Observatory.