Discretionary Spending
Function 250 - General Science, Space, and Technology
Eliminate Human Space Exploration Programs
CBO periodically issues a compendium of policy options (called Options for Reducing the Deficit) covering a broad range of issues, as well as separate reports that include options for changing federal tax and spending policies in particular areas. This option appears in one of those publications. The options are derived from many sources and reflect a range of possibilities. For each option, CBO presents an estimate of its effects on the budget but makes no recommendations. Inclusion or exclusion of any particular option does not imply an endorsement or rejection by CBO.
| Billions of dollars | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2015-2019 | 2015-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change in Spending | |||||||||||||
| Budget authority | 0 | -8.2 | -8.4 | -8.6 | -8.8 | -8.9 | -9.1 | -9.3 | -9.6 | -9.8 | -33.9 | -80.7 | |
| Outlays | 0 | -5.5 | -8.1 | -8.4 | -8.6 | -8.9 | -9.1 | -9.3 | -9.5 | -9.7 | -30.6 | -76.9 | |
Note: This option would take effect in October 2015. Estimates are relative to CBO’s August 2014 baseline projections.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Human Exploration and Operations programs focus on developing systems and capabilities required to explore deep space while continuing operations in low-Earth orbit. This option would terminate those programs except for the parts necessary to meet space communications needs. The agency’s science and aeronautics programs and robotic space missions would continue.