NASA FY 2018 BUDGET REQUEST

 Actuals Enacted 

 FY2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019

2 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022

$19.3B $19.7B $19.1B $19.1B $19.1B $19.1B $19.1B

The President's Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

Maintains NASA’s world leadership in space and increases cooperation with industry. 

NASA’s budget ensures our nation remains the world’s leader in space exploration and technology, aeronautics research and discovery in space and 

Earth science. The budget supports developing the technologies that will make future space missions more capable and affordable, including 

partnerships with the private sector for a variety of activities, such as transportation of crew and cargo to the International Space Station. The budget 

also continues the development of the Orion crew vehicle, Space Launch System and Exploration Ground Systems that will send astronauts beyond 

low Earth orbit in the early 2020’s. The budget also keeps the Webb Telescope on track for a 2018 launch; builds on our scientific discoveries and 

achievements in space; and supports the Administration’s commitment to serve as a catalyst for the growth of a vibrant American commercial space 

industry. 

Science – $5,711.8 million

 $1.9 billion for Planetary Science, keeping on track the Mars 2020 rover and the next selection for the New Frontiers program and including

formulation of a mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa.

 $1.8 billion for Earth Science, including a plan to continue the 44-year Landsat record of global land-imaging measurements. Terminates five 

Earth science missions (PACE, RBI, OCO-3, DSCOVR Earth-viewing instruments, CLARREO Pathfinder).

 $816 million for Astrophysics, continuing support for the Hubble Space Telescope, the Explorers Program, and the Wide-Field Infrared Survey 

Telescope (WFIRST).

 $534 million for the James Webb Space Telescope, maintaining its 2018 launch date.

 $678 million for Heliophysics, supporting the launches of Solar Probe Plus, Solar Orbiter Collaboration, and research to improve space weather 

modeling.

 Continues development of about 30 missions and operation of over 60 missions producing leading-edge science.

 Funds over 10,000 U.S. scientists in universities, industry, and government labs through over 3,000 openly competed research awards.

Human Exploration and Operations -

 Includes $3,934.1 million for Exploration ($4,030 million including exploration facilities), and $4,740.8 million for Space Operations.

 Continues commercial development of U.S. crew transportation systems that will support the International Space Station by the end of 2018, 

ending the need to pay Russia for crew transportation services.

 Enables use of the International Space Station as a platform to identify and quantify risks to human health and performance, develop 

countermeasures, and develop and test technologies that protect astronauts during extended human exploration missions; conduct world class 

science to improve life on Earth; and further commercial activities in LEO.

 Continues development of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew vehicle to send astronauts on deep space missions.

 Furthers Advanced Exploration Systems development and demonstration of systems and foundational technologies – often through public-private 

partnerships – for future exploration missions, including deep space habitation, while eliminating the Asteroid Redirect Mission.

Space Technology – $678.6 million

 Through public-private partnerships, enables the U.S. aerospace community to find technologies at the “tipping point” and make them viable for 

use by industry, NASA, and other government agencies in order to accelerate the transfer and commercialization of these technologies.

 Transforms satellite servicing investment to support a nascent commercial satellite servicing industry as well as application by NASA and other 

government agencies.

 Continues development of high-powered solar electric propulsion to meet demands by U.S. aerospace industry, and for NASA exploration 

missions.

 Completes Laser Comm Relay Demo flight hardware and begins system integration and testing.

 Grows and utilizes the U.S. industrial and academic base with a steady cadence of early stage technology activities conducted by the NASA 

workforce, academia, and businesses large and small within the aerospace industry.

Aeronautics Research - $ 624.0 million

 Advances aeronautics research, bringing major advances in the safety, capacity, and efficiency of the air transportation system while minimizing 

impacts on the environment and enabling new markets such as commercial UAS operations.

 Develops transformative capabilities that enable the U.S. aviation industry to maintain and advance its global leadership and contribute to the 

nation’s economic growth and job creation.

 Enables award of a design and build contract for the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator X-Plane, which will demonstrate quiet overland supersonic 

flight and open a new market to U.S. industry.

Safety, Security and Mission Services and Construction & Environmental Compliance and Restoration -

 Includes $2,830.2 million for Safety, Security, and Mission Services and $496.1 million for Construction & Environmental Compliance and 

Restoration.

 Funds Agency-wide mission support operations, including facilities and environmental activities. 

 Increases funding to strengthen agency-wide cybersecurity to protect data, systems, and operations.

 Ensures NASA infrastructure and assets are safe, secure, environmentally sound, and operate efficiently.

Education – $37.3 million 

 Terminates the Office of Education and provides $37.3 million for close-out costs.

 The STEM Science Activation program within NASA Science will continue to deliver science content to learners of all ages through cooperative 

agreements. NASA Science does not intend to take ownership of programs formerly funded by the Office of Education.