

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies today approved a $53.4 billion spending bill that includes a decrease in NASA’s budget.

The $19.5 billion budget for the space agency is $124 million below the FY2017 enacted level and $437 million above the amount requested by the Trump Administration. Earlier this month, the House Appropriations Committee approved $19.88 billion for NASA.

The Senate spending measure includes:

$2.15 billion for the Space Launch System (SLS), which is $212 million above the request. The funding continues the development schedule for SLS, and provides $300 million in critical funding for upper stage engine work for future crewed missions.

$1.3 billion for the Orion crewed spacecraft, $164 million above the request, to continue development of NASA’s next deep-space crewed capsule.

$5.6 billion for Science, $193 million below the FY2017 enacted level and $140 million below the request.

$732 million, the same as the request, to further develop a domestic crew launch capability.

$700 million for Space Technology, $14 million above the FY2017 enacted level and $21 million above the request. Funding is included to advance projects in early stages of development that are expected to eventually demonstrate capabilities needed for future space exploration.

$100 million is provided for the Education programs proposed to be eliminated in the budget request. NASA EPSCoR is funded at $18 million, Space Grant is funded at $40 million, the Minority University Research and Education Project is funded at $32 million, and STEM Education and Accountability projects is funded at $10 million.

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