The astronauts who will go to the moon ask the US that there be no cuts for NASA

The astronauts who will make up the Artemis II mission and who will travel to the moon in the coming years asked this Thursday, at the foot of the Capitol American, that the Government does not reduce the budget allocated to the POT.

In these critical weeks because Republicans and Democrats do not reach an agreement on the debt ceiling, the four astronauts that will make up the mission (three Americans and one Canadian), visited this Thursday the building where the most immediate economic future of the country is settled.

“We are all aware of the context that was being discussed here and we have come to talk about the virtues of the Artemis programme, about what we are doing and also to express our gratitude for the leadership and vision that has been shown so far and that has given us brought here” Víctor Glover, who will be the pilot of the ship, pointed out in a press conference.

To prevent the US government from going into suspension of payments, Congress must approve a new increase in the debt ceiling before June 1, which the Republicans condition on the reduction of various items, among which could be funds for the space agency.

The four astronauts that make up the mission have met with legislators and senators to defend the importance of investing in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the US government agency responsible for the civil space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research.

“(Legislators) want to continue supporting us and they know how important the decisions and discussions that are taking place right now are for the future of sustainability and the execution of this mission.added Glover, who will be the first African American to walk on the moon.

The ten-day mission around the moon will have Reid Wiseman as commander and Glover as pilot, while astronaut Christina Hammock Koch, the first woman to set foot on the satellite, and Jeremy Hansen, the latter of the canadian agency

The four will be part of the first manned mission on NASA’s path to establish a long-term presence on the moon, which will be the first mission in 50 years to return to the Earth’s satellite since the end of the Apollo program, which between 1968 and 1972 put 12 astronauts on the lunar surface.

The astronauts were joined today by NASA Administrator, former Democratic Senator Bill Nelson. “It has been extraordinary that Republicans and Democrats, who were sometimes at odds, come together throughout history. The space program is a unifying force,” he stated.

That’s why “We are hopeful that the debt ceiling situation will be resolved,” added. And he asserted that any reduction in spending on the space agency’s items, “the kind of cuts that have been talked about”would “devastating for NASA” and space programs.

Also participating in the press conference was former astronaut Mark Kelly, currently a Democratic senator from Arizona, who insisted that you have to work “to get the message across and talk about why these shows are important.”

“NASA’s success is in large part attributable to the vision and leadership of NASA administrators over the past three administrations and also to broad, bipartisan support here in Congress.”he claimed.

NASA anticipates that the shipment of the first manned mission of the Artemis program will land on the satellite in 2025.

Until then, Hansen detailed today, the astronauts will work to adapt to the spacecraft and the teams that are participating in the mission.

“We still don’t have it all figured out. We are still building parts (…) We will find some problems and solve them together and this is how we train to prepare ourselves, becoming experts with the team on the ground before we leave. It’s one of the most exciting parts for an astronaut.” narrated.

Thus, although the ten days around the moon “they will be extraordinary” and “Seeing the Earth from the moon’s perspective is going to be something that will touch our souls.”time “Between now and launch is just as magical because we’ll be solving tough challenges with an amazing team on the ground.”

Source: EFE