NASA is experiencing a turning point at 180 degrees in its history. If the American space agency has made millions of people dream around the world, the corridors of the Houston control center (Texas) seem very empty. Voluntary departures are more and more numerous.
Behind these figures of names, anonymous, researchers working in the shadows, but also sizes. Unique talents in their field which have been prestigious of this institution for 6 decades. This Monday, a new glorious name was added to this long list.
A few weeks after Laurie Leshin, emblematic director of JPL, it was Makenzie Lystrup who announced her departure. She was at the head of the Goddard flight center center. This historic site for NASA, open in 1959, is the agency’s main research center.
Goddard: a whole symbol
She had more than 8,000 civilians under her orders and had a budget of almost $ 8 billion. The Goddard Center is known worldwide for developing James Webb and Hubble space telescopes.
Another telescope under development is assembled in Goddard, it is the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Its launch, if it is not canceled by then for budgetary reasons, will take place at the end of next year.
Why so much departures?
Behind the name of Makenzie Lystrup, More than 3000 anonymous people left the business of their dreams : NASA. If you question one of these people on the reasons behind this departure, the budget of the American space agency will be its first answer.
While the United States with Donald Trump at his head seeks by all means to make an economic slimming treatment, NASA is in the viewfinder of the Trump administration. Its budget should be reduced by 25 %. In an open letter published a few hours before the departure of Lystrup, hundreds of employees and the acting director of NASA, the Secretary of Transport Sean Duffy requests the end of this economic massacre.
They fear that the budget currently scheduled for the next exercise of NASA will “Threats to waste public resources, compromise human security, weaken national security and undermine the main mission of NASA. »»
“The last six months have seen rapid and unnecessary changes that have undermined our mission and caused catastrophic impacts on NASA labor. We are obliged to speak when our leadership gives priority to political momentum despite human security, scientific progress and the effective use of public resources. We urge you not to implement the harmful cuts proposed by this administration, because they are not in the best interest of NASA. »»
The next NASA budget should be $ 18.8 billion. A brutal drop by 25 % in one year. Regarding the Goddard Research Center, located a stone’s throw from the White House, its operating budget will drop from almost $ 8 billion to less than 3.5.
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