NASA, the preeminent American establishment for anything spaces or celestial, has once again put its fenders into the muck of the federal government shutdown as the budget stalemate of Washington is now causing havoc in public services nationwide, as if fate would have things and more than 15,000 NASA employees were put on unpaid leave while only a very few mission critical staff have dared to work. The major worry among other things is whether the International Space Station continues its operations with American astronauts in orbit while the vast part of the agency’s minor activities remains dormant.
What is Happening at NASA?
The space agency has effectively shut down many of its typical operations. Under the agency’s official contingency plan, most everyday business, scientific work and development projects are put on hold until a new federal budget is approved by Congress. Exceptions are for those critical to human lives or high-value government property such as the ISS. These activities continue to be managed by a small, unpaid workforce referred to as excepted personnel.
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ISS Operations Continues for Essential Staff
A skeletal force is still working at NASA’s Mission Control in Houston to oversee the operations of the space station. These employees are engaged in monitoring life support systems, international coordination and any technical or medical emergencies aboard the ISS. They work without pay because the exigency of astronaut survival and caring for infrastructure worth billions dictates so.
Astronauts Safe but NASA is Silent
Operations on the ISS are alive and running but no announcer from NASA is broadcasting about it and NASA has gone unreported in its social media vehicles and official blogs since September 30, just a day before shutdown. There is very little to no news from those sources regarding the onboard experiments or astronaut health. The public, for the most part is on its own in the dark with essential staffers ensure continuous care and support for the crew behind the scenes.
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Global Collaboration Keeps ISS Stable
The ISS is a joint effort by NASA, Russia’s Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, JAXA from Japan and CSA from Canada. When U.S. funding fell short, these international partners came in handy to keep it up and running. Automated systems and shared responsibilities ensured that no critical functions get disrupted with the cuts in staff on the American side.
What is on Hold at NASA?
The Educational programs, scientific research and the Artemis Moon mission are planned to be put on hold. This suspension also includes long-term activities such as Mars exploration and collaborations with universities for many years to come. In effect, the grand vision of U.S. space exploration has been put on hold and active only with system-maximum mission criticality.
Previous NASA’s Shutdowns
It is not NASA’s first foray into political gridlock, previous shutdowns in 2013, 2018 and 2019 saw research interrupted, launch delays, and scientific data backlogs wrought. The law prevents voluntary work by furloughed employees and these interruptions muddle NASA’s collaborations with international agencies and private partners which really slow down the cruise of innovations in the space sector.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It does not represent official NASA communication or government policy updates. Accuracy not guaranteed.
