NASA pours millions into Alabama, but future funding is in limbo
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NASA spends hundreds of millions of dollars per state on average annually through its scientific missions, a recent analysis shows.
Why it matters: The space agency's science efforts bear the brunt of the cuts in the Trump administration's proposed budget, down nearly 50% to $3.9 billion.
Zoom in: Data from pro-space nonprofit The Planetary Society ranks Alabama fifth in NASA science spending, with an average $586 million spent annually.
- But the state's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Huntsville and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, ranks third among congressional districts nationwide, at $580.8 million.
- That funding drives an annual $1.6 billion in economic activity and supports thousands of jobs in the district.
- The University of Alabama in Huntsville is among the largest grant recipients, with a total of $272 million in active grants across fiscal years 2022-2024 supported by NASA science spending, per Planetary Society data.
Yes, but: Senate lawmakers introduced a proposal to add nearly $10 billion in NASA funding to the budget, a move commended by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, but it's generally focused on specific missions.
- That money would fund programs key to NASA efforts in Huntsville, including the largest piece: $4.1 billion to fund Space Launch System rockets for the Artemis IV and V missions.
- Another $1.25 billion over five years is earmarked for operations of the International Space Station, and $100 million is earmarked for facilities upgrades at the Marshall Space Flight Center, which houses the ISS Payload Operations Integration Center, NASA's primary space station science command post.
What's next: Answers on the pending budget proposal could come in the next few weeks, with Senate Republicans setting July 4 as the deadline to pass the bill and send it back to the House, per NPR.
The big picture: Science represents about 30% of NASA's overall budget and includes missions like space telescopes, robotic probes and satellites that gather data about Earth's changing climate.
- While not always as headline-grabbing as human spaceflight, NASA's science activity has greatly enhanced our scientific understanding of both Earth and our celestial neighborhood.
By the numbers: California (about $3 billion), Maryland ($2 billion), Texas ($614 million), Virginia ($612 million) and Alabama ($586 million) saw the most NASA science spending on average annually across fiscal 2022-2024, per data from The Planetary Society.
Between the lines: Trump's proposed NASA science cuts fit into a broader pattern of pulling resources away from scientific endeavors and data collection, especially involving climate change.
- The White House has also proposed major cuts and culled staff at agencies like NOAA, and is pulling federal funding for climate-related research.
The bottom line: Congress, not the president, sets NASA's budget — but Trump's proposal suggests he believes the agency should be focused on human spaceflight rather than a broader scientific mission.