NASA has rescued the OSIRIS-APEX mission, designed to study the asteroid Apophis during its close Earth flyby in 2029, from potential cancellation. The mission, which repurposes the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, faced the axe as part of proposed budget cuts by the White House. However, lawmakers have earmarked $20 million for OSIRIS-APEX in the House budget bill, ensuring its continuation.
The Apophis flyby presents a unique opportunity for scientists to examine a potentially hazardous asteroid up close. While Apophis poses no threat of impact in 2029 or the following century, its regular crossings of Earth's orbit make it a subject of long-term interest. The mission aims to gather valuable data on the asteroid's composition and behaviour during its close encounter with our planet.
Despite the reprieve, budget constraints have forced the OSIRIS-APEX team to make difficult decisions. The science team is effectively on hiatus until 2027, impacting training for younger scientists and delaying instrument recalibration. Moreover, expertise in spacecraft operations has been affected, with some engineers moving to other fields due to the cuts. The fate of other missions facing termination remains uncertain, with some facing detailed termination plans, raising concerns about the long-term impact on NASA's science portfolio and US scientific capabilities.
Fuente Original: https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/10/one-nasa-science-mission-saved-from-trumps-cuts-but-others-still-in-limbo/
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