The U.S. Senate Allocated An Additional $10 Billion For NASA's Colonization Of The Moon

• 2.07.2025, 19:06

Elon Musk has been a critic of the program.

Despite proposals by the administration of US President Donald Trump to cut NASA funding by a quarter, government programs to colonize the moon have received an additional $10 billion from the budget.

As reported by Euronews, 4.1 billion of the said amount is earmarked for building two SLS rockets for the Artemis IV and V missions. Another 2.6 billion dollars is allocated for the construction of the Gateway space station in lunar orbit. It is planned as a transfer point for astronauts between Earth and the satellite.

The owner of one of the world's most successful aerospace companies, SpaceX Ilon Musk, has previously launched an entire lobbying campaign against the construction of Gateway. He has repeatedly stated that it is more efficient to land directly on the moon. Musk has also called SLS rockets wasteful because they are disposable.

The Senate amended the president's NASA funding proposal and didn't take into account Ilon Musk's attitude towards colonizing the moon either. Although the billionaire is an influential person in the space industry, but has no official power authority. Therefore, he can influence policy only indirectly - through the involvement of lobbyists and public statements.

The American Parliament supported the construction of SLS rockets and the Gateway space station, taking into account not only technological efficiency, which was criticized by Ilon Musk. Budget capacity, domestic politics and jobs issues were also taken into consideration.

Although the Senate did not agree with all of the Trump administration's proposals, funding for the US space agency for 2026 could still be cut. The final budget has not yet been approved. NASA's refusal to participate in important scientific conferences is associated with this.