Even if Starship satisfies its first human crew launch schedule of mid-2026, a lot is yet unknown regarding how the budget plans for lunar and Martian exploration by humans.
A successful human trip to Mars would be an epoch-defining event requiring research and knowledge from many disciplines to meet the many obstacles for those explorers. The budget does not capture such urgent needs.
Until the International Space Station is retired in 2030, the plan also cut the funding in it. By then, commercial space stations should be accessible, so the demand for the ISS will be lessened—or perhaps China will have the only space station.
Ideological cutbacks all around.
We are quoting the budget sheet verbatim here; the Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Engagement has been cut because it is “woke”.
Though the paper does not define woke, the phrase started in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) to signify being aware of significant facts and situations, especially in connection to racial and social injustices.
Right-wing politicians, media outlets, and commentators most often use it as a catch-all for topics they disagree with.
