In the midst of a possible government shutdown Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a speech on Monday filled with warnings about the possible consequences — one of which would be the furlough of most of NASA's 18,000 employees.
Fuelled by a budget stuck in limbo over disagreements related to the new healthcare law, the governmental impasse could cripple a number of federal institutions, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Park Service.
But for those focused on the future of science and technology, the potential interruption of NASA's operations is just the latest in a series of budget woes that continue to stifle its development.
There's also the issue of NASA's work in space, namely the International Space Station. Currently, there are two NASA astronauts aboard the ISS: Mike Hopkins and Karen Nyberg.
If a government shutdown does occur, however, the two American astronauts won't be left literally hanging in the space station with no support. Speaking to reporters from the White House, Obama said, "NASA will shut down almost entirely, but mission control will remain open to support the astronauts serving on the space station."
NASA has been preparing for the possibility of a shutdown for weeks, and has already put contingency plans in place.
In a memo drafted by the Office of Management and Budget, an official laid out the specifics of how NASA will handle the potential shutdown, writing, "To protect the life of the crew as well as the assets themselves, we would continue to support planned operations of the ISS during any funding hiatus.
"Moreover, NASA will be closely monitoring the impact of an extended shutdown to determine if crew transportation or cargo resupply services are required to mitigate imminent threats to life and property on the ISS or other areas."
What makes the impending shutdown even more unsettling is the fact that Oct. 1 also marks NASA's 55th anniversary. The space agency celebrates the milestone on its website, but the historic day will be overshadowed by NASA's ongoing budget limitations — regardless of the outcome of Tuesday's looming government shutdown.
Image: NASA
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