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a "chilling impact" on the human space programme.....

The row between Donald Trump and Elon Musk over a major spending bill has exacerbated uncertainty over the future of Nasa's budget, which is facing deep cuts. 

The space agency has published its budget request to Congress, which would see funding for science projects cut by nearly a half.

Forty science missions, which are in development or in space already, are in line to be stood down.

The president has threatened to withdraw federal contracts with Musk's company, Space X. Nasa relies on the firm's Falcon 9 rocket fleet to resupply the International Space Station with crew and supplies. The space agency also expects to use its Starship rocket to send astronauts to the Moon and eventually to Mars once it has been developed.

Dr Simeon Barber, a space scientist at the Open University said that the uncertainty was having a "chilling impact" on the human space programme.

"The astonishing exchanges, snap decisions and U turns we've witnessed in the last week undermine the very foundations that we build our ambitions on.

"Space science and exploration relies upon long term planning and cooperation between government, companies and academic institutions."

Aside from the feud between the President and Mr Musk, there is also concern about deep cuts requested by the White House to Nasa's budget.

All sectors have been earmarked for savings, apart from an effort to send astronauts to Mars, which has received a $100m (£74m) boost.

According to Casey Dreier, chief of space policy for the Pasadena-based Planetary Society, which promotes space exploration, the potential cuts represent "the biggest crisis ever to face the US space programme". 

Nasa has said that its request to reduce its overall budget by nearly a quarter "aligns (its) science and technology portfolios to missions essential for the exploration of the Moon and Mars".

Dr Adam Baker, a space analyst at Cranfield University told BBC News that if these proposals are approved by Congress, it would fundamentally shift the agency's focus.

"President Trump is repurposing Nasa for two things: to land astronauts on the Moon before the Chinese and to have astronauts plant a US flag on Mars. Everything else is secondary."

READ MORE: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87jq0djw00o

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

 

deleted....

Elon Musk has deleted an X post claiming that US President Donald Trump’s name was in the sealed Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting that this is the real reason they remain classified.

On Thursday, Musk wrote: “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.” He added: “Have a nice day, DJT! Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.” 

In another inflammatory post no longer visible in the entrepreneur’s X account, Musk responded “yes” to a message that said “Trump should be impeached” and Vice President JD Vance “should replace him.”

The businessman has not commented on the issue yet.

Both posts became part of a public feud between Trump and Musk. During last year’s election, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX set up and funded a pro-Trump political group, donating over $260 million, and was appointed in January to co-lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with reducing federal bureaucracy and wasteful spending. Musk stepped down last week.

The rift started after the billionaire condemned Trump’s massive tax-cut bill, which is estimated to add $2.4 trillion to the $36.2-trillion US debt over 10 years, calling it a “disgusting abomination.” The US president then threatened to cancel federal contracts with Musk’s companies.

The clash then escalated into a series of jabs on social media. Musk accused the president of “ingratitude” and threatened to paralyze the US space program by decommissioning the Dragon spacecraft.

Trump, for his part, said that the tech billionaire had gone “crazy” and claimed that Musk was actually upset because he “took away his EV Mandate.”

Following the feud, Tesla’s shares dropped by about 14.2% on Thursday at market close, wiping roughly $152 billion off the value of the company. Trump Media stock also fell 8%.

Trump had previously pledged to declassify the Epstein files, and in February, US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the release of the “first phase” of documents. However, key materials – including flight logs, client names, and contact lists – have remained under seal, fueling speculation about who could be implicated.

Epstein, an investment banker with deep connections to political and business elites, was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died the following month in a New York jail in what was officially ruled a suicide, though his death instantly sparked widespread controversy and conspiracy theories.

https://www.rt.com/news/618780-musk-delete-trump-epstein-post/

 

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YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.