US Cuts to the International Space Station, Opponents Protest: Can't Let Low Earth Orbit Go to China and Russia

The "ax" of the Trump administration's federal budget cuts has now fallen on space. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal on August 5, as the core of NASA's human spaceflight program for over two decades, the International Space Station has become a focal point in the government budget struggle - NASA plans to start reducing some activities on the space station before its official retirement in 2030, gradually shifting towards private space stations.

According to a letter viewed by the Wall Street Journal, NASA has asked Boeing Company last month to cut related services provided to the International Space Station under its long-term contract. The agency's officials are also studying ways to reduce the number of astronauts stationed on the International Space Station, from the current four to a smaller number. The newspaper pointed out that this will directly affect the amount of scientific research work on the space station.

NASA Acting Administrator and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a new plan on the 4th, aimed at providing broader support for multiple commercial space stations currently under development. A memo obtained by the Wall Street Journal shows that Duffy believes this strategy will bring greater flexibility for NASA and space station developers, and emphasized that "we must act quickly."

However, the "ax" swung by the Trump team against the International Space Station has caused opposition in Congress. Lawmakers have reserved funds for the International Space Station in the Trump-driven "big and beautiful" tax and spending bill, and a recent legislative report from the Senate also emphasized that NASA should "make the most of the International Space Station as much as possible before the end of its life cycle."

The Wall Street Journal analysis suggests that U.S. political figures generally hope to avoid a "gap" between the International Space Station and the next generation of private commercial space stations, especially against the background of China's Tiangong space station having entered operation.

Senator Ted Cruz, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, a Republican U.S. Senator from Texas, claimed during a hearing in April, "We must establish the necessary systems to support and command the continuous activities of American astronauts in low Earth orbit," "We cannot hand over low Earth orbit to China or Russia."

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839699592949764/

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