On an unknown date, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) started making Phase F (the mission-terminating phase) preparations against satellites OCO-2 and OCO-3, both of which measure pollution and plant productivity, which is crucial for farmers and researchers. The Aqua satellite, which detects wildfires across the globe, as well as the Terra and Aura missions, both of which track climate, were also at risk of being scrapped.
NASA also attempted to hold some of its own missions hostage, by attempting to condition their funding on the charity of private companies and universities.
Destroying the satellites, which NASA intended to do in response to Trump’s 2026 fiscal year budget, would also be far more expensive than simply maintaining them, which only costs $15 million per year. This would be an example of “waste, fraud, and abuse.” Furthermore, destroying the satellites could cede American leadership within this technological domain to China.
On August 6, NASA stated:
NASA said in an emailed statement Wednesday that the missions were “beyond their prime mission” and being terminated “to align with the President’s agenda and budget priorities.”
PBS
NASA’s intention to decommission and destroy the satellites is borderline illegal, as Congress makes the final call as to whether or not the missions continue. Regardless of this fact, NASA initiated Phase F planning in response to the President’s budget; had they gone any further, it would amount to illegal behavior. As stated in several entries, and will be stated as many times as needed, it is not the goal or mission of any federal agency to “align with the President’s agenda.”
In a humiliation for NASA’s attempted suicide, Congress rejected Trump’s proposed cuts against the space agency, in some cases increasing funding for scientific research as compared to last year.
