Trump administration proposes slashing NASA budget by 24%

[Admin]

The White House's proposed 2026 budget cuts $6 billion in NASA funding and cancels Mars sample return and the Gateway moon-orbiting space station, among other projects.

Trump administration proposes slashing NASA budget by 24% : Read more

 

[newtons_laws]

The article says "if this budget is enacted — a big if, as it must be approved by Congress — some big-ticket NASA programs will get the axe. Among them are Mars sample return, a joint effort with the European Space Agency to get material collected by NASA's Perseverance rover back to Earth, and Gateway, the planned moon-orbiting space station that has long been a key part of NASA's Artemis moon program"

As this other article shows, Europe is also involved in the Gateway project: https://www.space.com/space-explora...tions-habitat-module-arrives-in-the-us-photos

So if the Mars sample return and the gateway projects are cancelled, will ESA be reimbursed for the money already spent and committed on these projects? If not then the message goes out that NASA is an unreliable organization to partner with. Perhaps in future more certainty for ESA if they partner with say China?