“This $ 24.7 billion funding request demonstrates the commitment of the Biden administration to NASA and its partners who have worked so hard over the past year under difficult circumstances and achieved unprecedented success,” said Steve Jurczyk, NASA acting administrator in a statement. statement.
The President’s discretionary plea increases NASA’s ability to better understand the Earth and further monitor and predict the impacts of climate change. It also provides us with the necessary resources to continue advancing America’s bipartisan moon-to-moon. -Mars space exploration plan, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the moon under the Artemis program. ”
Biden’s request for fiscal year 2022 would keep NASA on track to return people to the moon, while aligning with the President’s “commitment to pursue a comprehensive approach to promote equality for all”, according to a NASA release.
Artemis astronauts include Joseph Acaba, Kayla Barron, Raja Chari, Matthew Dominick, Victor Glover Jr., Warren “Woody” Hoburg, Jonny Kim, Christina Koch, Kjell Lindgren, Nicole Mann, Anne McClain, Jessica Meir, Jasmin Moghbeli, Kate Rubins, Frank Rubio, Scott Tingle, Jessica Watkins and Stephanie Wilson.
“Women and people of color represent a significant portion of all facets of NASA’s workforce, and the last two astronaut classes selected comprise the highest percentage of women in history,” said Lal. “Fifty percent of the 2013 National class were female and 45% of the 2017 class. And today, African American, Asian Pacific Islanders, Hispanic and multiracial astronauts make up about a quarter of NASA’s active astronaut corps. “
Lal said the announcement is very meaningful to her personally. She came to the United States at the age of 18, with two suitcases full of books, and never thought she would work at NASA in the future.
“If you can see it, you can believe it,” Lal said. “So much of what NASA does is inspire the next generation, but to be successful in that inspiration, we need to remain leaders when it comes to diversity and equality.”
That diversity is needed not just for mission capability, but also for NASA to fuel the giant strides the agency is taking to boost how humans explore space, she said.
Returning astronauts to the Moon will act as a testing ground before being sent to Mars – another long-term goal of the Artemis program.
“It’s not a ‘flags and footprints’ activity like the Apollo program,” Lal said. “This is a more sustainable presence to help prepare us to go to Mars.”
As astronauts explore the Moon’s South Pole, which has never been visited by humans before, they will build on the legacy and science gained during the Apollo program and take it into a new century.
After the unmanned Artemis I flight in November, Artemis II will be a manned flight from the moon in August 2023. Artemis III will return astronauts to the moon.
In addition to helping the Artemis program and studying climate change, the president’s request would also help advance robotic space exploration, boost aeronautical technology, and provide new funding for NASA’s efforts to participate. to participate in STEM outreach for disadvantaged students, the agency said.