US Government Shutdown Hits NASA: Astronauts Aren’t Getting Paid
According to a report by Futurism, a science site based in New York, which cites a NASA official, the astronauts slated to go to the Moon as part of the Artemis 2 mission are currently unable to receive their paychecks. The report also mentions that payments to contracted personnel involved in the Artemis 2 mission are continuing for now. However, it was noted that should the government shutdown persist, this funding could quickly run dry.
The possibility of a delay has emerged for Artemis 2, which is set to launch early.
Last month, NASA officials had announced that the Artemis 2 mission could be launched approximately two months ahead of schedule, on February 5, 2026. However, according to reports in the American media, it remains uncertain whether the agency can adhere to this timeline. Given that the suitable alignment conditions for the flight of the Orion capsule between the Moon and Earth occur only a few times a month, this could lead to a delay of at least a month for Artemis 2.
The shutdown has not only hit NASA but also affected numerous institutions.
As of October 1st in the US, the dawn of the new fiscal year, many government agencies were forced into a shutdown due to the failure to approve the federal budget. During this period, only 'essential' services such as security, health, and air traffic control continued, while payments and salaries in other agencies were suspended.
Contractor firms involved in the Artemis 2 project were also affected by this situation. Kirk Shireman, the vice president in charge of Lockheed Martin's Orion spacecraft program, expressed to Ars Technica that the budget crisis has caused serious issues within the industry. Shireman stated, 'I work at a large corporation with strong capital. However, there are many people, many small companies; they can't receive their salaries and won't be able to continue working after a certain point.'
Fears have started to surface in America that China may surpass the USA.
Futurism pointed out that the government shutdown not only negatively impacts NASA's operations and employee motivation, but it could also potentially give an upper hand to the US's competitors in the space race. The site underscored the increasing likelihood of China reaching the Moon before the US, a warning that officials have repeatedly issued, especially as the duration of the government's closure prolongs.
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