"Not a bluff"–NASA's budget would shut down long-lived Chandra telescope
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, facing a budget shortfall due to prioritization of human spaceflight, may shut down, risking layoffs and impacting astrophysics research as funding discussions continue.
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NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, launched 25 years ago, faces potential shutdown due to a nearly billion-dollar budget shortfall in the agency's science division. The budget constraints stem from a deal between Congress and the Biden administration that prioritized funding for human spaceflight programs, particularly the Artemis program aimed at returning astronauts to the Moon. As a result, funding for NASA's science missions has decreased, prompting discussions about the future of Chandra. Mark Clampin, director of NASA's astrophysics division, indicated that maintaining Chandra's operations at previous funding levels would necessitate cuts to other projects. The current budget is set to expire on September 30, and if the proposed budget for the next year is implemented, significant layoffs for Chandra's staff are expected, with notices of impending layoffs scheduled for August 5. Chandra is renowned for its ability to observe high-energy cosmic phenomena, including black holes, and has contributed to numerous discoveries in astrophysics. The observatory's future remains uncertain as scientists advocate for its continued funding amidst the looming budget cuts.
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