GOP may finally succeed in unrelenting quest to kill two NASA climate satellites

In a significant development that could impact climate research, NASA faces potential termination of crucial satellite missions designed to monitor carbon dioxide emissions. This situation traces back to 2002 when the agency, under the George W. Bush administration, launched initiatives to track greenhouse gases, crucial for understanding human impacts on the environment. The ongoing budget proposal from the Trump administration suggests drastic cuts, with plans to eliminate 41 out of NASA's 124 science missions currently in development or operation. Additionally, 17 missions are slated for funding reductions. If these cuts are enacted, NASA's overall budget would see a 25% reduction, while its science funding could be halved. As the September 30 deadline for this year's federal budget approaches, bipartisan lawmakers have indicated they will oppose most of these proposed cuts. However, uncertainty looms over whether Congress will finalize a budget before the deadline. In the meantime, NASA has been instructed to prepare for the potential cancellation of missions which, without specific congressional intervention, could allow the White House to impose these cuts unilaterally. Amidst these challenges, two specific missions that track atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are at risk. The investment of over $750 million by U.S. taxpayers in these instruments could result in a loss of valuable data if funding is withdrawn, with potential savings of only $16 million per year. David Crisp, a former leading atmospheric scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, expressed his dismay over the proposed shutdown of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory missions. He likened the situation to purchasing a car and deliberately crashing it to save on fuel costs, emphasizing the long-term implications of losing vital climate monitoring capabilities.