DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION SYSTEMS

($ in Millions) FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028

Deep Space Exploration Systems 6,855.1 7,468.9 7,971.1 8,130.5 8,293.1 8,459.0 8,628.2

Common Exploration Systems Development 4,525.4

Exploration Ground Systems 794.2

Orion Program 1,225.0

Space Launch System 2,506.1

Artemis Campaign Development 3,234.8

Gateway 914.2

Adv Cislunar and Surface Capabilities 60.3

Human Landing System 1,880.5

xEVA and Surface Mobility Program 379.9

Human Exp Requirements & Architecture 49.1

Mars Campaign Development 161.8

Grand Total 7,971.1

FY 2022 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-103, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, as 

adjusted by NASA's FY 2022 Operating Plan, August 2022.

FY 2023 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

The NASA Administrator has determined that, in the interest of ensuring the safe and successful execution of the 

early Artemis flights, managing risk effectively, and maintaining resiliency and flexibility for future missions 

exploration requirements, NASA has made a decision to no longer transition programs that complete their research 

and development phase in the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate to the Space Operations 

Mission Directorate for their operational phase.

The FY 2024 budget for the Deep Space Exploration Systems account provides for the development of 

systems and capabilities needed for human exploration of the Moon and Mars. With the re-organization 

of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate in 2022, and corresponding changes to 

budget structure, the Deep Space Exploration Systems account—and existing underlying programs—is 

organized into the following four themes1:

• Common Exploration Systems Development (CESD), formerly Exploration Systems Development;

• Artemis Campaign Development (ACD);

• Human Exploration Requirements & Architecture (HERA); and

• Mars Campaign Development (MCD).

Common Exploration Systems Development (CESD)

• CESD programs work together to develop three of the key space transportation systems that will 

enable the Agency’s Artemis Campaign to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon 

1 The Exploration Research and Development theme, used in prior years, has been retired. All programs 

have been absorbed within the four themes above.
DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION SYSTEMS

and extend human presence into the solar system. The systems being developed are the Orion crew 

vehicle, Space Launch System (SLS) launch vehicle, and Exploration Ground Systems (EGS). The 

first uncrewed launch of the SLS and Orion occurred in November 2022 and the first crewed launch 

returning humans to the lunar vicinity in fifty years will occur NET November 2024.

• The Orion Program will finalize assembling and testing the second crewed vehicle and deliver the 

system to EGS at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The program will continue outfitting and testing the 

third and fourth crewed vehicle at KSC. In addition, construction of the fifth crewed vehicle will 

continue at the Michoud Assembly Facility.

• The Space Launch System Program’s launch vehicle production and certification for flight will 

continue at Michoud Assembly Facility and Marshall Space Flight Center along with engine and core 

stage testing at Stennis Space Center (SSC) for the Artemis II, III and IV core stages. Key launch 

vehicle components will be delivered to EGS at KSC for integration into the final flight launch 

vehicle with the Orion crew vehicle. The budget provides funding for development of the Block 1B 

upgrade for a new upper stage to the SLS.

• The Exploration Ground Systems Program will continue to prepare launch infrastructure and 

operations requirements in support of the SLS and Orion programs. Modifications to existing 

facilities and command and control systems will be ongoing, including installations of crew egress 

systems, continued construction of Mobile Launcher 2 and related facility modifications required for 

the Block 1B launch vehicle.

• NASA will continue to explore contracting and management approaches for reducing the costs of 

future exploration missions to enable a more sustainable and scalable exploration program.

Artemis Campaign Development (ACD)

• The overarching goal of ACD is to develop the systems that will be used to develop a presence in 

lunar orbit, land humans on the Moon, explore the lunar surface, and prepare for Mars exploration. 

ACD is developing and testing prototype systems, as well as planning and developing flight missions 

to lunar orbit and the Moon to develop systems and operation capabilities that enable an eventual 

mission to Mars. ACD is comprised of four programs: Human Landing System (HLS); Advanced 

Cislunar Surface Capabilities (ACSC); Gateway; and xEVA and Surface Mobility Program.

• The largest program in the FY 2024 ACD budget is the HLS Program, which utilizes commercial 

partnerships to develop and jointly deploy the integrated landing system that will transport crew to 

and from the lunar surface and conduct a series of lunar missions using that capability. The budget, 

pending proposal evaluation and costs, provides funding for the HLS Program to maintain 

competition for lunar landing services by supporting the development of multiple different lunar 

landing systems.

• The Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capabilities (ACSC) Program is managing and integrating the 

systems that NASA will use throughout the Artemis Campaign to access and explore the surface of 

the Moon. ACSC leads the integration of the human space flight elements of the Artemis missions 

starting with Artemis III.

• Gateway is a platform that will orbit the Moon and support orbital activities, lunar landers and surface 

activities. Gateway will initially consist of a Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation 

and Logistics Outpost (HALO); with later configurations including at least two modules contributed 

by NASA’s international partners; and may be supported by U.S. commercial logistics services.
DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION SYSTEMS

• xEVA and Surface Mobility Program is formulating the systems that NASA will use to explore the 

surface of the Moon. These surface systems include: the Lunar Terrain Vehicle; the Pressurized 

Rover; and xEVA surface suits that will provide capabilities and result in lessons learned and 

expertise that will support future Mars missions.

Human Exploration Requirements & Architecture (HERA)

• The goal of HERA is to provide support in the development of human exploration campaigns to the 

Moon and beyond. HERA's work will identify the exploration infrastructure required for Artemis 

missions that will inform future missions to Mars.

• The Architecture Development office (funded in Moon & Mars Architecture budget) is responsible 

for the integration of strategy and architecture across the Exploration Systems Development Mission 

Directorate portfolio. In the near term, the office is conducting trade studies to reduce risk and 

identify required technologies to be utilized as part of the Artemis Development Campaign and act as 

precursor systems for potential future Mars Development Campaign missions. The office will conduct 

an annual Architecture Concept Review (ACR) to maintain alignment with Agency’s exploration 

objectives.

Mars Campaign Development (MCD)

• The overarching goal of MCD is to start working on long-lead technology challenges that will need to 

be solved in order for an eventual crewed mission to Mars to succeed. MCD will address these 

challenges through a combination of unique in-house activities, industry collaboration, and 

international partnerships. MCD is developing and testing prototype technologies, as well as planning 

and developing flight missions to lunar orbit and the Moon to develop systems and operation 

capabilities that enable an eventual mission to Mars.

• Exploration Capabilities will continue work to identify and address knowledge gaps and deliver 

fundamental capabilities to provide astronauts a place to live and work with integrated life support 

systems, radiation protection, food, fire safety, avionics and software, logistics management, and 

waste management systems.
SPACE OPERATIONS

($ in Millions) FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028

Space Operations 3,974.9 4,250.0 4,534.6 4,625.3 4,717.8 4,812.2 4,908.4

International Space Station 1,302.6

Space Transportation 1,956.7

Commercial Crew Program 100.6

Crew and Cargo Program 1,856.1

Space and Flight Support (SFS) 1,047.0

Space Communications and Navigation 579.7

Human Space Flight Operations 102.0

Human Research Program 153.5

Launch Services 103.8

Rocket Propulsion Test 48.6

Communications Services Program 59.4

Commercial LEO Development 228.4

Grand Total 4,534.6

FY 2022 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-103, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, as 

adjusted by NASA's FY 2022 Operating Plan, August 2022.

FY 2023 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

The NASA Administrator has determined that, in the interest of ensuring the safe and successful execution of the 

early Artemis flights, managing risk effectively, and maintaining resiliency and flexibility for future missions 

exploration requirements, NASA has made a decision to no longer transition programs that complete their research 

and development phase in the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate to the Space Operations 

Mission Directorate for their operational phase.

International Space Station (ISS)

The budget funds ongoing ISS operations, transportation, and research, consistent with the 

Administration’s decision to propose extending ISS operations through 2030. ISS supports the emerging 

commercial economy in low-Earth orbit (LEO) as well as the future of deep space human exploration. 

The ISS:

• Promotes commerce in space as new commercialization concepts are explored and stimulates 

non-NASA demand to support development of commercial destinations under the Commercial LEO 

Development Program;

• Enables scientists to identify and quantify risks to human health and performance, develop 

countermeasures, and develop and test technologies that protect astronauts during extended human 

space exploration;

• Supports NASA research and development in the areas of biological and physical science, as well as 

Earth and space science missions;

• Conducts research to benefit humanity through the ISS National Lab; and
SPACE OPERATIONS

• Maintains the ISS international partnership that has brought together astronauts and scientists from 

dozens of spacefaring nations in peaceful and cooperative activity.

NASA is working to foster a robust commercial economy in LEO in which NASA will be one of many 

customers. Through the ISS, NASA currently meets its own requirements for research and technology 

development, while also supporting a burgeoning community of non-NASA users. Over time, NASA has 

been and will be transitioning various aspects of human spaceflight operations in LEO to the private 

sector. This includes a transition from the ISS to commercial space stations, starting when they become 

available in the late 2020’s. Extension of ISS operations through 2030 allows time to complete this 

transition while avoiding a gap in LEO capabilities.

Space Transportation

• Continues NASA’s partnership with the United States commercial space industry to develop and 

operate safe, reliable, and affordable systems to transport crew to and from ISS and LEO;

o This program has laid the foundation for more affordable and sustainable future human space 

transportation capabilities, bolstered American leadership, eliminated reliance on foreign 

providers for this service, and helped stimulate the American aerospace industry.

• Sustains NASA’s ISS cargo supply function in partnership with American private industry;

• Begins work in support of a U.S. deorbit capability for ISS; and

• Continues to advance commercial spaceflight and support American jobs.

Space and Flight Support (SFS)

• Provides mission-critical space communications and navigation services to customer missions, 

including human spaceflight, science, and commercial crew and cargo missions;

• Advances space communication technologies, including optical communications, and autonomous 

navigation for infusion into operations to reduce costs and improve performance;

• Begins infrastructure changes to support human and robotic exploration of the Moon, including 

providing a lunar relay capability and enhanced position, navigation, and timing;

• Continues development efforts to demonstrate the use of commercially provided communication 

services to support NASA missions;

• Understands and mitigates the highest risks to astronaut health and performance to ensure crews 

remain healthy and productive during long-duration missions beyond LEO;

• Supports the readiness and health of the crew for all NASA human spaceflight endeavors;

• Provides safe, reliable, and cost-effective launch services for civil sector missions, as well as 

launch-related support to NASA missions in development; and

• Continues to strategically manage NASA’s rocket testing capability to meet United States rocket 

testing requirements.

Commercial LEO Development

• Creates a robust commercial LEO marketplace by enabling the development of commercially owned

and operated LEO destinations that are safe, reliable, and cost-effective;
SPACE OPERATIONS

• Ensures NASA can meet its needs in LEO as it transitions from ISS operations to new commercial 

LEO destinations that are commercially owned and operated. NASA’s future requirements that will 

persist beyond the lifetime of the ISS include crew accommodation and training, human research, 

physical and biological research, technology demonstration, and science, and a National Laboratory;

• Prepares for a sustained human presence in LEO and United States leadership in LEO after ISS;

• Drives down costs through LEO commercialization so that NASA can free up resources to be used 

for future human space operations and exploration; and

• Utilizes inventive, non-traditional agreements for acquiring commercial space goods and services to 

meet NASA requirements.
SPACE TECHNOLOGY

($ in Millions) FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028

Space Technology 1,100.0 1,200.0 1,391.6 1,419.4 1,447.8 1,476.8 1,506.3

Space Technology 1,391.6

Early Stage Innovation and Partnerships 138.1

Technology Maturation 402.3

Technology Demonstration 551.3

SBIR and STTR 299.9

Grand Total 1,100.0 1,200.0 1,391.6 1,419.4 1,447.8 1,476.8 1,506.3

FY 2022 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-103, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, as 

adjusted by NASA's FY 2022 Operating Plan, August 2022.

FY 2023 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

The Space Technology portfolio transforms NASA missions and ensures American leadership in the 

space economy. The Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) rapidly develops, demonstrates, and 

transfers revolutionary, high-payoff space technologies driven by diverse ideas, which includes the 

following:

• Early-Stage Innovation and Partnerships (ESIP) leverages the ideas, talents, and experiences of a 

diverse set of contributors to achieve Agency objectives. Space Technology advances ambitious 

early-stage projects across lower technology readiness levels and communities to address NASA 

mission needs and seed future aerospace capabilities through the ESIP portfolio. Key 2024 highlights 

include:

o Space Technology Research Grants expands investments in graduate fellowships, early career 

faculty, and research institutions. This program challenges the spectrum of academic researchers 

to examine the theoretical feasibility of ideas and approaches that are critical to making science

and space activities more effective, affordable, and sustainable.

o Early Career Initiative increases the number of annual early career development awards with a

goal of funding seven projects annually. This program provides leadership opportunities for the 

early career NASA workforce and helps build and maintain unique skillsets in support of NASA 

missions.

o Center Innovations Fund promotes innovation and stimulates creativity across the Agency by 

initiating studies across every center to address NASA technology needs.

o NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts nurtures visionary ideas that could transform future 

NASA missions by increasing the number of Phase I and II early concept awards and maintaining 

the number of Phase III awards.

o Prizes, Challenges, & Crowdsourcing continues the Watts on the Moon, Break the Ice Lunar, and 

Deep Space Food challenges. This program formulates new prize concepts to address 

administration and Agency priorities, such as orbital debris and other identified strategic 

technology gaps.
SPACE TECHNOLOGY

o Early-Stage Innovation and Commerce advances the ESIP portfolio joint priorities and innovative 

pilots including enhanced support to underrepresented communities, evidence-driven programs, 

academic research to market, and partnerships.

o Technology Transfer expands beyond the initial three pilot centers to increase licensing and 

commercialization successes, while engaging local and regional partners, and technology transfer 

university agreements, with an emphasis on minority serving institutions and historically black 

colleges and universities.

• Technology Maturation advances foundational and transformative technologies that enable NASA 

missions and support commercial and other government agencies. This portfolio consists of Game 

Changing Development and the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative, which advances technologies 

from proof-of-concept to demonstration. Key 2024 highlights include:

o Delivering and demonstrating several Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative technologies (e.g., 

Polar Resources Ice-Mining Experiment, Intuitive Machines Deployable Hopper, Nokia 4G/LTE 

Proximity Communications, Electrodynamic Dust Shield, Stereo Camera for Lunar Plume 

Surface Studies, and Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration), which will be 

demonstrated on the Moon in partnership with the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s 

Commercial Lunar Payload Services.

o Beginning qualification testing of the High Performance Spaceflight Computing production chip 

that has the potential to provide 100 times the computational capability of current flight 

processors for the same amount of power.

o Continuing the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium alliance, which includes universities, 

industry, non-profits, and other government agencies and aims to harness the creativity, energy, 

and resources of the nation to keep the U.S. at the forefront of lunar exploration and working 

toward a sustained presence on the Moon.

o Supporting low-to-mid technology readiness level work that engages industry innovators to 

identify concepts and approaches to address orbital debris.

o Advancing NASA missions and commercial needs through new selections and awards via the 

Announcement of Collaborative Opportunity and Tipping Point projects.

• Technology Demonstration conducts ground based testing and space flight technology 

demonstrations to advance and transition new capabilities for use by NASA missions, industry, and 

other government agencies. Key 2024 highlights include:

o On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacture-1 (OSAM-1) will complete hardware build and 

initiate integration and testing in 2024.

o Nuclear Propulsion will continue the partnership established between NASA and the Defense 

Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar 

Operations (DRACO) Program. The non-reimbursable partnership will benefit both agencies to 

speed up development efforts. NASA will also partner with other government agencies to 

advance Nuclear Electric Propulsion.

o Cryogenic Fluid Management (CFM) is essential for establishing a sustainable presence on the 

Moon and enabling crewed missions to Mars. The Eta Space Tipping Point project is currently 

scheduled for a flight demonstration in 2024, which will be followed by the Lockheed and United 

Launch Alliance CFM flight demonstrations in 2025.
SPACE TECHNOLOGY

o Solar Electric Propulsion will complete the second qualification thruster assembly no earlier than 

May 2024. The qualification System Acceptance Review-1 is planned for the fourth quarter of 

FY 2024.

o Flight Opportunities and Small Spacecraft Technology will continue to increase the pace of space 

exploration and discovery by leveraging small spacecraft and responsive launch capabilities. This 

Program will continue to provide TechLeap prize opportunities, TechRise student challenges, 

TechFlight awards, university SmallSat technology partnerships, flights, and missions of 

opportunities.

• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 

leverage the Nation’s small business community to support early-stage research and development that 

support NASA’s missions and the U.S. space economy. These programs engage a broad, diverse base 

of innovators, and includes emphasis on improving technology transfer access for minority serving 

institutions and historically black colleges and universities.
SCIENCE

($ in Millions) FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028

Science 7,610.9 7,795.0 8,260.8 8,426.0 8,594.5 8,766.4 8,941.7

Earth Science 2,472.8

Planetary Science 3,383.2

Astrophysics 1,557.4

Heliophysics 750.9

Biological and Physical Sciences 96.5

Grand Total 7,610.9 7,795.0 8,260.8 8,426.0 8,594.5 8,766.4 8,941.7

FY 2022 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-103, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, as 

adjusted by NASA's FY 2022 Operating Plan, August 2022.

FY 2023 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

NASA’s Science budget, managed by the Science Mission Directorate, includes five major science areas:

• Earth Science enhances understanding of the Earth’s interconnected systems. The budget supports 

continued formulation of the Earth System Observatory missions (Atmosphere Observing 

System - Storm, Atmosphere Observing System – Sky, Surface Biology and Geology, and Mass

Change). It continues the Earth System Explorers Program, funds the successor mission to Landsat 9 

to ensure continuity of the Landsat data record, and supports sustained climate observations. The 

budget also supports the ongoing development of the PACE, CLARREO Pathfinder, and NISAR 

missions, as well as multiple missions in development within the Earth Venture element. The Applied 

Sciences program will continue to leverage Earth Science satellite measurements and new scientific 

knowledge to enable innovative and practical uses by public and private sector organizations, 

including expanded applications development work in support of agriculture. Investments within the 

Open Source Science (OSS) project will facilitate implementation of open-source science principles 

to accelerate scientific discovery and expand access to scientific knowledge produced by NASA.

• Planetary Science explores the planetary bodies of our solar system. The budget funds the Lunar 

Discovery and Exploration Program that supports Artemis science, commercial collaborations, and 

innovative approaches to achieving human and science exploration goals. The budget contains 

funding to explore new destinations in the solar system via missions such as Europa Clipper, Psyche, 

DAVINCI, and Dragonfly. The budget supports future competitive mission selections within 

Discovery, SIMPLEx opportunity, and New Frontiers. The budget supports the Mars Sample Return 

mission with key international partnerships, which will launch no earlier than FY 2028 and return 

surface samples to Earth. The budget supports expanded NASA contributions the European Space 

Agency’s (ESA) Rosalind Franklin rover, planned to launch in 2028, that will search Mars for signs 

of ancient life. The budget also supports the VIPER mission, which will explore the south pole of the 

Moon after its commercial lunar delivery, planned in FY 2025.

• Astrophysics studies the universe and searches for Earth-like planets. The budget supports operation 

of the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as the development of 

the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, planned for launch in 2027. Within the Explorers program, 

the budget includes funding for SPHEREx and initial selections of the first Astrophysics Probe 

mission. This budget continues support of precursor science and technology efforts in planning and 
SCIENCE

preparing for the Great Observatories Mission and Technology Maturation Program (GOMAP) 

recommendation contained in the Astro2020 Decadal Survey. 

• Heliophysics studies the Sun and its influence throughout the solar system. The budget supports the 

development of the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe and the Carruthers Geocorona 

Observatory, selected under the Solar Terrestrial Probes Program, and a competitive Explorer 

Program including recently selected missions MUSE and HelioSwarm. The budget continues the 

Space Weather Program focused on applied research and applications to enable the Nation to better 

protect our technology and astronauts from space weather. The budget includes funding for the 

Diversify, Realize, Integrate, Venture, Educate (DRIVE) initiative and funds orbital debris 

investments to enable characterization of the populations of small debris and dust in space to protect 

space-based critical infrastructure and humans working in space. The budget proposes to pause the 

Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) due to pressures from cost growth in other NASA science 

missions, including Mars Sample Return.

• Biological and Physical Sciences betters our understanding of how biological and physical systems 

work by observing them in ways not possible on Earth. The budget supports space biology 

investigations, which seek to understand how living organisms respond to and evolve in the 

spaceflight environment, and physical science investigations to examine the fundamental laws of the 

universe from the unique vantage point of space. The budget also establishes a new initiative called 

Commercially Enabled RapId Space Science (CERISS), designed to increase the pace of research in 

low-Earth orbit, leveraging transformative commercial research capabilities.

To effectively manage this portfolio, the Science Mission Directorate:

• Focuses on three interdisciplinary objectives:

o Discovering the secrets of the universe;

o Searching for life in the solar system and beyond; and

o Protecting and improving life on Earth and in space.

• Supports more than 100 space missions:

o Approximately 56 missions preparing for launch and approximately 70 operating missions; and

o Ongoing flights of sounding rockets, aircraft, and high-altitude balloons and associated science 

payloads and investments in lunar instruments and SmallSats.

• Invests in world-class scientific research conducted by more than 10,000 United States scientists:

o More than 4,000 openly competed research awards with universities, industry, and Government 

labs; and

o World-leading research, frequently highlighted on the covers of Science, Nature, and major 

newspapers.

• Emphasizes the inclusion of diverse participants in NASA science by:

o Supporting competitively selected missions led by Principal Investigators from all over the 

country in the Earth Venture line, Discovery, New Frontiers, and Explorer programs;

o Implementing requirements in Announcements of Opportunity to strengthen the diversity and 

inclusion in mission teams and expanding dual-anonymous peer review to most NASA Research 

Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) solicitations; and
SCIENCE

o Sponsoring research partnerships between major research universities, NASA centers, and 

minority serving institutions.

• Executes innovative approaches to enhance science and innovation, for example by:

o Providing new launch opportunities for science and technology payloads, and fostering a growing 

United States commercial launch market, by offering access to space via the Agency’s new 

Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions contract;

o Purchasing Earth Science observation data from commercial SmallSat constellations to augment 

or complement observations acquired by NASA;

o Leveraging commercial collaborations to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon;

o Leveraging data and expertise through partnerships with other Federal agencies, such as The U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA);

o Collaborating with nations across the globe on NASA missions and science; and

o Enabling science learners across the United States through partnerships with community-based 

organizations.

• Enables the use of NASA science data to inform decision-makers in support of vital national needs 

including disaster response, space weather prediction, orbital debris detection, wildfire response, 

climate change, and planetary defense.

• Leads the continuous evolution of science data and computing systems to expand participation, 

improve reproducibility, and accelerate scientific discovery for science and societal benefit.

• Develops innovative technologies to enable advances in future missions and observational 

capabilities, for example: 

o Optics and detectors to characterize habitable planets around other stars;

o Instruments to look for signs of past or present life on Mars and other planetary bodies; and 

o Sensor platforms and data processing technology needed to study the Earth as a system including 

the effects of space weather.
AERONAUTICS

($ in Millions) FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028

Aeronautics 880.7 935.0 995.8 1,015.7 1,036.0 1,056.7 1,077.8

Aeronautics 995.8

Airspace Operations and Safety Program 158.7

Advanced Air Vehicles Program 295.2

Integrated Aviation Systems Program 264.9

Transformative Aero Concepts Program 160.0

Aerosciences Eval. & Test Capab. Program 117.0

Grand Total 880.7 935.0 995.8 1,015.7 1,036.0 1,056.7 1,077.8

FY 2022 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-103, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, as 

adjusted by NASA's FY 2022 Operating Plan, August 2022.

FY 2023 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

NASA Aeronautics leads the Nation’s aviation community in pioneering research to improve efficiency 

and reduce the noise and emissions of commercial aircraft; advance the safety, capacity, and efficiency of 

air transportation; and enhance aviation as an economic engine at all altitudes and speeds. Each of these 

transformations are taking place grounded in the national goals of reaching net-zero aviation emissions 

and growing a more productive and fair economy. With the FY 2024 budget, NASA is leading the 

transformation of aviation in four key research areas: ultra-efficient transport, high-speed commercial 

flight, future airspace operations, and advanced air mobility. Through the Sustainable Flight National 

Partnership with industry, NASA will enable next generation single-aisle transports with ultra-efficient 

and low-carbon emitting technologies that will be up to 30 percent more fuel-efficient than today. NASA 

will continue to aggressively pursue new aviation opportunities, such as low-noise commercial supersonic 

flight as well as transformative advanced air mobility applications, that will support U.S. economic 

growth and expand the next generation aerospace workforce.

The budget request supports five programs within the Agency’s aeronautics portfolio:

• Airspace Operations and Safety Program (AOSP) advances mobility through modernizing and 

transforming the national air traffic management system, in partnership with the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) and the aviation community. The program develops and explores advanced 

technologies for more efficient gate-to-gate flight trajectories, leads research on increasingly 

autonomous aviation, and provides tools for the integration and analysis of data to support in-time 

system-wide safety assurance. The program has focused efforts to advance the safe integration of new 

aviation concepts into the airspace as well. In FY 2024, AOSP will:

o Evaluate new operating practices for the increasingly-busy high altitude airspace;

o Develop an interagency concept of operations to improve aerial responses to wildfires, in 

collaboration with other Federal, State, and local agencies;

o Deliver tools and methods to the FAA and industry that support safety certification of advanced 

aerospace technologies and systems; and

o Working with the FAA, mature the vision for future airspace operations in 2045 and establish 

critical Research and Development (R&D) goals to meet desired outcomes.
AERONAUTICS

• Advanced Air Vehicles Program (AAVP) develops the tools, technologies, and concepts that enable 

new generations of civil aircraft that are safer, faster, more energy-efficient, and have a smaller 

environmental footprint. The program pioneers fundamental aeronautics research and matures the 

most promising concepts for transition to the user community. Key focus areas include: enabling 

major leaps in the safety, efficiency, and environmental performance of subsonic fixed and rotary 

wing aircraft; overcoming noise and other technology challenges to high-speed flight, including 

demonstration of quiet supersonic flight with the X-59 aircraft; and understanding and tackling 

critical challenges of hypersonic flight. In FY 2024, AAVP will:

o Develop reliability prediction methods for electric motor concepts and verify the improvement in 

motor reliability for advanced motor designs for vertical lift vehicles;

o Evaluate and select high-rate composite aircraft manufacturing technologies for demonstration in 

FY 2027 of at least one full-scale aircraft component;

o Award contract(s) to demonstrate integrated small core aircraft engine technologies in an 

environment that simulates flight conditions;

o Develop, test, and apply a model-based systems analysis and engineering framework for 

designing integrated, multi-fidelity vehicle concepts; and

o Complete preparation for the initial X-59 supersonic aircraft community-response flight test.

• Integrated Aviation Systems Program (IASP) explores, assesses, and demonstrates the benefits of 

the most promising technologies at an integrated system level, including in flight. The program has 

three major flight projects: Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, Electrified Powertrain Flight 

Demonstrations, and Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator. Also, the program funds flight support 

capabilities and other aeronautics research related flight tests. In FY 2024, IASP will:

o Conduct initial flight testing of the X-59 Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator to confirm aircraft 

performance in preparation for demonstrating quiet supersonic flight;

o Complete the critical design reviews for NASA’s two electrified powertrain flight 

demonstrations; and

o Complete the system requirements review for the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator awarded to 

Boeing in January 2023.

• Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program (TACP) demonstrates initial feasibility of 

concepts supporting the discovery and development of new transformative solutions supporting the 

NASA Aeronautics strategy, including exploring opportunities to create a net zero-emissions aviation 

future. In FY 2024, TACP will:

o Develop measurement technologies for evaluating new hybrid-electric engine blade performance 

including non-destructive evaluation methods for coatings;

o Complete the Convergent Aeronautics Solutions activity in solid-state additively manufactured 

batteries for enhanced energy, recharging, and safety; and

o Complete and evaluate University Leadership Initiative awards in areas such as liquid hydrogen 

fuel cells, autonomous systems for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft, and real-time weather 

forecasting in urban environments affecting AAM operations.
AERONAUTICS

• Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities Portfolio (AETC) manages NASA's portfolio of 12 

large wind tunnels used for ground testing of advanced technologies and configurations across all 

speed regimes: subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic. In FY 2024, AETC will:

o Conduct wind tunnel experiments for NASA and external customers to assess technology in 

simulated ground-test environments;

o Assess the condition and health of testing capabilities at Ames Research Center (ARC), Glenn 

Research Center (GRC), and Langley Research Center (LaRC) to identify equipment with a highrisk of failure due to age or maintenance issues; and

o Develop robust testing methodologies to reduce flight certification time in low-speed, high-lift 

flight envelope using the LaRC National Transonic Facility.
STEM ENGAGEMENT

($ in Millions) FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028

STEM Engagement 137.0 143.5 157.8 161.0 164.2 167.5 170.9

STEM Engagement 157.8

Grand Total 157.8

FY 2022 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-103, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, as 

adjusted by NASA's FY 2022 Operating Plan, August 2022.

FY 2023 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

NASA engages students, educators, and educational institutions, and attracts diverse groups of students to 

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This includes investments in learning 

opportunities that spark interest and provide connections to NASA’s mission and work; creating unique 

opportunities for a diverse set of students to contribute to NASA’s work; and building a diverse future 

STEM workforce. The Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) leads NASA’s STEM engagement 

function, providing strategic guidance and direction in partnership with NASA’s mission directorates. In 

FY 2024, NASA’s STEM engagement efforts will focus on broadening student participation, enhancing 

the K-12 portfolio of student learning opportunities, bolstering internships and other direct student 

learning opportunities, and expanding partnerships and networks to magnify reach and impact. The 

STEM Engagement Program is comprised of four projects:

National Space Grant College Fellowship Project (Space Grant)

Space Grant (SG) is a national network of colleges and universities with 52 consortia in all 50 states, the 

District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and over 1,000 state-based affiliates. In FY 2024, SG will issue awards 

for year four of a four-year competitive awards cycle, which will increase base awards to $910,000 for 

each consortium. Space Grant will continue to execute SG KIDS (K-12 Inclusivity and Diversity in 

STEM), which is focused on underserved and underrepresented middle and high school students.

Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP)

MUREP will continue to expand its reach to Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) and underrepresented 

minorities in geographical areas of the country where MUREP does not have existing investments. 

MUREP will implement a focused strategy to partner with the Space Grant Consortia and to place more 

concentration on MSI faculty and the role they play in student engagement efforts. MUREP will also 

conduct more robust data collection and reporting across the Agency and externally with grantees to show 

trends related to MSI engagements, funding, student participation, and other key performance indicators.

Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

EPSCoR will execute its competitive awards portfolio for eligible jurisdictions, with the aim of 

developing a broader academic research enterprise directed toward long-term, self-sustainable, and 

nationally competitive capabilities in aerospace. In FY 2024, EPSCoR will partner with the Space 

Technology Mission Directorate to extend the NASA Suborbital Flight Opportunities (SFO) Program to 

EPSCoR jurisdictions. EPSCoR, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, will support 

Fellows Advancing Science and Technology to enable MSIs within EPSCoR states to collaborate with 

NASA researchers and open new paths for them to compete for future research projects.
STEM ENGAGEMENT

Next Generation STEM Project (Next Gen STEM)

The Budget proposes an increase of $11.7 million for Next Gen STEM. This significant increase reflects 

the desire to continue and significantly grow the project’s ability to provide educational offerings and 

educator support to pre-college beneficiaries, to initiate funded partnerships to significantly expand reach 

and effectiveness, and for NGS to serve as an integration point and service provider for K-12 initiatives 

across the Agency, amplifying Agency effectiveness in STEM Engagement. Of the $11.7 million:

• $5 million would support new strategic partnerships to expand NASA's reach and impact in the K-12 

education space. NASA will develop and release an open solicitation designed to support external 

organizations in the development and execution of high impact national activities to engage diverse 

learners in NASA STEM content and careers. 

• $0.4 million would support evaluation efforts to determine how NASA’s internships program affects 

student outcomes and to provide insights on how to strengthen teaching and mentoring practices 

within the program. 

• $2 million would go to expanding strategic offerings of in-person professional development for preservice and early career educators at community hub events hosted at Minority Serving Institutions 

(MSIs) and other key community partners.

• $1.5 million would fund adequate staff and materials to enable a 400 percent increase in students 

served over FY 2022 NASA Sparking Participation in Authentic Real-world eXperiences (SPARX)

pilot participation numbers, or approximately 10,000 students. SPARX challenges deliver hands-on 

experiences for students of all educational levels and build STEM identity through a continuum of 

offerings that meets students where they are in their STEM learning journey. This budget proposal 

allows increased student engagement in the spring semester of the 2023-2024 school year and all of 

the 2024-2025 academic year. 

• $1.3 million would support continued improvements to the NASA Engages online tool to match 

NASA role models and STEM experts to community needs across the nation. The funds will enable 

recruitment and training of more NASA employees to successfully engage with students, share their 

knowledge and personal career journeys, and inspire students to persist in STEM and choose STEM 

careers. 

• $1.5 million would support increased awards to Informal Education Institutions through TEAM II. 

This will include two additional awards in the $800,000 range and 10 additional smaller Community 

Anchor awards over the numbers awarded in FY 2023. 
SAFETY, SECURITY, & MISSION SERVICES

($ in Millions) FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 3,020.6 3,129.5 3,369.4 3,436.8 3,505.5 3,575.6 3,647.1

Mission Services & Capabilities 2,259.3

Information Technology (IT) 681.8

Mission Enabling Services 802.4

Infrastructure & Technical Capabilities 775.1

Engineering, Safety, & Operations 1,110.1

Agency Technical Authority 200.1

Center Engineering, Safety, & Operations 910.0

Grand Total 3,369.4

FY 2022 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-103, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, as 

adjusted by NASA's FY 2022 Operating Plan, August 2022.

FY 2023 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

The Safety, Security, and Mission Services account enables NASA's missions by providing foundational 

support capabilities. SSMS funds the integration of core business and technical functions across NASA’s 

nine centers and Headquarters (HQ). SSMS also funds independent oversight of NASA’s mission 

programs to ensure the health and safety of NASA employees and the public. SSMS programs provide the

services and capabilities that ensure NASA has the technical skills, physical assets, financial resources, 

and top talent to make its work successful, safe, and reliable.

The SSMS FY 2024 budget is comprised of two themes: Mission Services and Capabilities (MSaC) and 

Engineering, Safety, and Operations (ESO).

Mission Services and Capabilities 

MSaC provides enterprise solutions under three programs: Information Technology, Mission Enabling 

Services (MES), and Infrastructure and Technical Capabilities (I&TC). Strategically, these programs meet 

workforce, infrastructure, information technology, and business operations requirements necessary to 

enable NASA's mission. MSaC ensures that critical Agency operations are effective, efficient, safe, and 

meet statutory, regulatory, and fiduciary responsibilities. These mission enabling services, capabilities,

and related processes provide efficient and effective administration across all NASA centers.

• Information Technology provides the information services needed to fulfill NASA’s multifaceted 

missions and operations, including cybersecurity, IT asset planning and management, and technical 

support. NASA's IT Program helps improve Agency outcomes by accelerating results through tools 

that increase productivity, sharing NASA’s data and discoveries, and increasing the quality, 

resiliency, and cost-effectiveness of its information systems. Reliable, adaptable, and secure 

cloud-based IT is increasingly important to NASA's mission portfolio because it is a key enabler for 

advances in science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration.

• Mission-Enabling Services provides an enterprise approach to managing NASA business operations 

and mission support activities. Missions rely on these institutional services to provide the business

with services and skilled staff required to accomplish their objectives. Enterprise management of 

these areas ensures that critical Agency operations are effective, efficient, and meet statutory, 

regulatory, and fiduciary responsibilities. Business services include financial management, human 
SAFETY, SECURITY, & MISSION SERVICES

capital management, procurement, small business, legislative affairs, equal opportunity and diversity 

management, legal, communications, international and interagency relations, and protective services.

• Infrastructure and Technical Capabilities provides sustainment, operations, and maintenance for 

facilities and technical capabilities. The program also provides effective oversight and management of 

real property, environmental program activities, aircraft operations, and logistics functions. These 

capabilities enable NASA to meet statutory and regulatory responsibilities and ensures that the right 

infrastructure is available to meet mission requirements. This mission is accomplished through 

effective management of assets and capabilities, proactive coordination with NASA mission 

directorates, institutional planning, proactive deployment of sustainable practices, ongoing regulatory 

compliance, and reducing current and future infrastructure-related risks.

Engineering, Safety, and Operations

ESO provides for the ongoing management and operations of NASA Headquarters, nine centers, and 

component facilities under two programs: (1) Agency Technical Authority (ATA); and (2) Center 

Engineering, Safety, and Operations (CESO). The programs support scientific and engineering activities. 

They contribute to the reduction of program risks by ensuring that: technical skills and assets are ready 

and available to meet program and project milestones; mission and research endeavors are technically and 

scientifically sound; and center practices are safe and reliable, including the highly skilled staff and 

specialized infrastructure at the centers that facilitate NASA missions.

• Agency Technical Authority provides the foundation for NASA’s system of checks and balances, 

defined in NASA’s Strategic Management and Governance Handbook, by providing independent

technical authority over health, safety, and engineering requirements for the missions. Through 

independent analysis and deep subject matter expertise, ATA develops policy, designs procedural 

requirements, and provides recommendations to NASA's Administrator, mission directorates, center 

directors, and program managers, who are ultimately responsible for the safety and mission success of 

all NASA activities.

• Center Engineering, Safety, and Operations ensures NASA's unique, technical, and innovative 

capabilities are mission-ready by supporting center-level institutional and technical capabilities 

through independent research, development projects, and maintenance of facilities, laboratories, and 

other mission-critical assets. CESO fulfills a key component of NASA’s overall approach to risk 

management by providing center-level independent technical authority. Center-level oversight and 

reporting activities uphold the strategy and guidance from ATAs, putting checks on safety, 

engineering, and mission assurance that are separate from mission directorates. CESO funds NASA 

HQ operations and center management activities across the Agency. Institutional administration and 

operational safety programs allow centers the flexibility to address and manage conditions unique and 

specialized to their facilities. CESO also ensures that Agency policies and guidance are 

operationalized across centers with consistency and efficiency.
CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE 

RESTORATION

($ in Millions) FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028

Construction And Envrmtl Compl Restoration 416.8 414.3 453.7 462.8 472.1 481.5 491.1

Construction of Facilities 375.9

Institutional CoF 336.0

Exploration CoF 10.5

Space Operations CoF 29.4

Environmental Compliance and Restoration 77.8

Grand Total 453.7

FY 2022 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 117-103, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, as 

adjusted by NASA's FY 2022 Operating Plan, August 2022.

FY 2023 reflects Division B funding amount of $47.3 million and Division N funding amount of $367 million, as 

specified in Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

The Construction & Environmental Compliance Restoration (CECR) account funds the capital repairs and 

improvements to NASA's infrastructure and environmental compliance and restoration activities. With 

installations in 14 states, NASA collectively manages an inventory of more than 5,000 buildings and 

structures. CECR funds repair, replacement, and modernization of NASA’s infrastructure. The FY 2024

budget prioritizes funding for vital repair and construction work to ensure NASA’s physical assets are 

safe, reliable, and mission-ready.

Institutional Construction of Facilities (CoF) ensures that NASA's physical institutional infrastructure 

meets Agency mission needs. This includes utility systems, roads, buildings, research facilities, and 

associated equipment. Institutional CoF also funds activities that reduce operating costs, maintenance 

obligations, and utility usage through demolition and energy savings projects.

NASA's Institutional CoF program for FY 2024 includes five discrete projects, 17 minor projects, seven

energy savings investment projects, and numerous demolition projects, along with facility planning and 

design:

• Discrete Projects: 

o Construct the Engineering and Mission Operations Facility at Ames Research Center [$56.4 

million] to consolidate mission engineering serving aerospace systems and spaceflight projects; 

o Construct the Integrated Logistics & Processing Facility at Goddard Space Flight Center [$19.0 

million] to support flight projects and center logistics; 

o Upgrade the Compressor Station at Langley Research Center [$15.0 million] to provide 

high-pressure air to test facilities; 

o Renew the High-Pressure Gas Facility at Stennis Space Center [$14.0 million] to provide 

high-pressure gases to test facilities; and 

o Repair the Crew and Thermal Systems Mechanical Infrastructure Building 7 at Johnson Space 

Center [$12.0 million] to increase safety and reduce technical/schedule risks.
CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE 

RESTORATION

• Minor Projects: Institutional CoF requests an estimated $132.6 million for minor projects in 

FY 2024, prioritized based on asset criticality and mission urgency. NASA may reprioritize some

projects based on final allocations from Congress and evolving mission requirements and asset 

conditions.

• Energy Savings Investments: Institutional CoF requests an estimated $12.0 million for energy 

savings investments in FY 2024, resulting in an estimated $3.0 million in avoided utilities 

expenditures annually after a 4.4-year, simple payback period. These projects reflect NASA's 

dedication to environmental stewardship and efficiency.

• Demolition of Facilities: Institutional CoF requests an estimated $45.0 million on demolition to 

reduce the Agency’s footprint, reduce operational costs, and increase environmental sustainability.

• Facility Planning and Design: Institutional CoF requests an estimated $30.0 million on facility 

planning and design in FY 2024. Facility planning and design is a requirement for all CoF projects to 

ensure optimal outcomes, including consolidation and utility usage.

Programmatic CoF funds projects to carry out specific Deep Space Exploration Systems and Space 

Operations programmatic requirements. Funding in this category is realigned from the mission 

directorates to the CECR budget, in accordance with statutory direction that all NASA construction 

projects be funded in the CECR account. The FY 2024 budget request of $10.5 million for Space 

Exploration Systems and $29.4 million for Space Operations will provide for the following:

• Exploration CoF:

o $10.5 million to modify the launch infrastructure at Kennedy Space Center for Space Launch 

System activities and new exploration missions.

• Space Operations CoF:

o $5.8 million for the continued repair of the Deep Space Network Aperture Enhancement Beam 

Waveguide antennae at the Goldstone and Canberra Deep Space Communication Complexes; and

o $23.6 million to conduct repairs, modernization, and upgrades to ensure the safe and reliable 

continued operations of vital communication and monitoring systems.

Environmental Compliance and Restoration (ECR) mitigates environmental risk at NASA 

installations and Agency-owned industrial plants supporting NASA activities. ECR supports remediation 

at current or former sites where NASA operations have contributed to environmental problems or where 

the Agency is legally obligated due to past releases of pollutants, including emerging contaminants such 

as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

At every center, ECR programs investigate contaminated sites; remediate contaminated soil, water, and 

other media; and monitor for compliance with environmental laws and obligations, including the 

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); Comprehensive Environmental Response, 

Compensation, Liability Act (CERCLA); state regulatory requirements; consent orders; and legal 

obligations.