FISCAL YEAR 2016

BUDGET ESTIMATES
2016 Budget Highlights

 Builds on U.S. preeminence in science and technology, improves 

life on Earth and protects our home planet, while creating jobs and strengthening the American economy.

 Provides $18.5 billion to advance the Nation’s space exploration 

plan and ensure that the United States remains the world's leader in space exploration and scientific discovery for years to come. 

 Supports the growth of a vibrant American commercial space 

industry and partners with industry to regain the capability to send 

astronauts into space cost-effectively and safely from American 

soil by the end of 2017.

 Invests in space technologies that enhance current US space 

capabilities while improving our ability to access and travel through space; accurately land more mass in more locations throughout the solar system; live and work in deep space and on planetary bodies; and transform the ability to observe the universe and answer profound questions in earth and space 

sciences. 
Highlights (continued)

 Continues development of the Orion Multi-Purpose 

Crew Vehicle, Space Launch System (SLS), and Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) that will send astronauts on deep space exploration missions. 

 A crewed mission to rendezvous with a redirected 

asteroid in cis-lunar space will allow NASA to expand crewed operations beyond low Earth orbit as a proving ground for Mars class missions. 

 Extends operation of the International Space Station 

(ISS) to at least 2024, providing a unique environment for research on human health and space operations necessary for future long-term human missions, for expanding commercial activity in low Earth orbit, and providing direct benefits to the people of Earth. 
Highlights (continued)

 Funds crucial satellite a

efforts to help us undesystems and climate, a42-year Landsat record imaging measurements

 Funds missions to Mars, Europa, and other 

destinations throughout the solar system, and supports the Discovery and New Frontiers programs. 

 Funds achievement of multiple milestones in 

the development, integration, and testing of our next Great Observatory the James Webb Space Telescope, planned for launch in 2018. 
Highlights (continued)

 Focuses aeronautics research on the communityendorsed strategy to address a growing demand for 

mobility, severe challenges to sustainability of energy and the environment, and technology advances in information, communications, and automation technologies. Continues research supporting the implementation of NextGen and the development of environmentally responsible air vehicles.

 Funds aeronautics technology development to 

address emerging needs such as integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the NAS, enabling small UAS operations at low altitude, and low carbon propulsion.

 Contributes to the government-wide effort to 

improve the delivery and effectiveness of STEM education programs. Supports a more cohesive infrastructure for delivering STEM education and leveraging existing resources to improve the reach of agency assets. 
Anticipated Accomplishment

in FY 2016

Comm

Progra

Comm

transpor

test flig

mi

SLS/Orion: 

Complete 

structural 

build of major 

components 

and begin 

testing

ISS: Increase utilization with 

science and technology payload 

hardware to 70 percent; Complete 

the One-year crew increment

Asteroid 

Redirect 

Mission: 

Complete 

definition of the 

ARM robotic 

mission segment

Launch 13 

science and 

cargo missions 

and one 

commercial 

crew test

Space Tech: 

Transform 

technology 

with six major 

in-space 

demos

JWST: 

Integrate the 

JWST mirror 

with science 

instruments 

(cameras and 

spectrographs)

Ae

Comp

UAS f

deliv

result

reg

in
FY 2016 Budget Request ($M

*FY 2014 reflects funding amounts specified in the June 2014 Operating Plan per P.L. 113-76.

**FY 2015 reflects only funding amounts specified in P.L. 113-235, the Consolidated and Further Continuing 

2015.

FY 2014 

Op Plan* 

FY 2015 

Enacted** FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 F

Science $5,148.2 $5,244.7 $5,288.6 $5,367.9 $5,448.4 

Earth Science $1,824.9 $1,947.3 $1,966.7 $1,988.0 Planetary Science $1,345.7 $1,361.2 $1,420.2 $1,458.1 Astrophysics $678.3 $709.1 $726.5 $769.5 James Webb Space Telescope $658.2 $620.0 $569.4 $534.9 Heliophysics $641.0 $651.0 $685.2 $697.9 

Aeronautics $566.0 $651.0 $571.4 $580.0 $588.7 Space Technology $576.0 $596.0 $724.8 $735.7 $746.7 Exploration $4,113.2 $4,356.7 $4,505.9 $4,482.2 $4,298.7 

Exploration Systems Development $3,115.2 $3,245.3 $2,862.9 $2,895.7 $2,971.7 Commercial Spaceflight $696.0 $805.0 $1,243.8 $1,184.8 $731.9 Exploration Research and Development $302.0 $306.4 $399.2 $401.7 $595.1 

Space Operations $3,774.0 $3,827.8 $4,003.7 $4,191.2 $4,504.9 

International Space Station $2,964.1 $3,105.6 $3,273.9 $3,641.0 Space and Flight Support (SFS) $809.9 $898.1 $917.3 $863.8 

Education $116.6 $119.0 $88.9 $90.2 $91.6 Safety, Security, & Mission Services $2,793.0 $2,758.9 $2,843.1 $2,885.7 $2,929.1 

Center Management and Operations $2,041.5 $2,075.2 $2,105.0 $2,136.6 Agency Management and Operations $751.5 $767.9 $780.7 $792.5 

Construction & Envrmtl Compl Restoration $522.0 $419.1 $465.3 $436.1 $442.6 

Construction of Facilities $455.9 $374.8 $344.3 $349.3 Environmental Compliance and Restoration $66.1 $90.5 $91.8 $93.3 

Inspector General $37.5 $37.0 $37.4 $38.0 $38.5 Grand Total $17,646.5 $18,010.2 $18,529.1 $18,807.0 $19,089.2 $

Notion
NASA Mission Launches

(Fiscal Years 2015 – 2020)

SLS EM-1

Future Cargo

Orbital-7 Future Cargo Future Cargo

DSAC SpaceX-9 Orbital-8 Future Cargo Future Cargo

GPIM SpaceX-10 Future Cargo Future Cargo Future Cargo F

SpaceX-5 

✓ SpaceX-11 Future Cargo Future Cargo Future Cargo F

SpaceX-6 SpaceX-12 Future Cargo Future Cargo Future Cargo FSpaceX-7 Orb-4 Future Cargo Future Cargo Comm Crew FSpaceX-8 Orb-5 Future Cargo Comm Crew Comm Crew F

Orb-3 X Orb-6 CCtCap Test Comm Crew TIR-FF F

Orion EFT-1 

✓ CCtCap Test CCtCap Test ICON LCRD C

SMAP SAGE III CCtCap Test TESS GEDI C

MMS InSight NICER ICESat-2 ECOSTRESS 

ISS-CREAM SET-1 CYGNSS GOLD Solar Orbiter 

DSCOVR Astro-H OSIRIS-Rex Solar Probe+ JWST 

ST-7 BepiColumbo* JPSS-1 GRACE FO Metop 

Jason-3 GOES-R GOES-S ExoMars** GOES-T 

FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019 

*Dates reflect Agency Baseline Commitments or updated Agency schedules and may include schedule margin beyond any manifested launch dates

Joint NASA-USAF MissionJoint NASA-Int'l Partner Mission Commercial Resupply Services MissionInt'l Mission w ith NASA contribution Future Commercial Resupply Mission

STMD missions *NASA provide**NASA provid

NASA Mission on US ELV Exploration Systems Development MissionReimbursable Mission for NOAA Commercial Orbital Transportation ServicesJoint NASA-NOAA-USAF Mission Commercial Crew Mission

HEO missions iSMD missions TDRS-M Launc✓ Mission suc

X Mission uns
Earth Science

 Supports formulation and development of PACE, NISAR, 

OCO-3, ICESat-2, GRACE Follow-on, and SWOT.

 Multi-Decadal Sustainable Land Imaging (SLI) program 

provides high-quality, global land imaging measurements, involving Thermal-Infrared Free-Flyer (TIR-FF), Landsat 9 (fully Class-B rebuild of Landsat 8), and Land Imaging Technology and System Innovation.

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

Earth Science $1,947 $1,967 $1,988 $2,009 

Outye

 Transfers TSIS-1 and future ocean altimetry missions (after Jaso

NOAA to NASA, consistent with a revision of satellite responsibilNOAA retains responsibility for weather satellites and NASA is thother nondefense Earth-observing satellite missions. 

 Supports the Venture Class Suborbital-2 investigation selections Provides strong support for Research and Analysis. Operates 18 additional missions, and the Airborne Science proje
Planetary Science

 Launches the InSight mission to Mars, the Strofio instrument to M

and the OSIRIS-REx mission to visit an asteroid and return a sam

 Continues development of the Mars 2020 mission. Funds formulation work for a mission to Jupiter’s moon, Europa. Continues work on the JUICE instrument in collaboration with the 

European Space Agency mission to Jupiter. 

 Operates 13 Planetary missio

MAVEN & MSL (Mars), and C(Saturn). 

 Increases funding for asteroid 

capabilities to identify and chpotentially hazardous near-Ea

 Supports the selection of the 

Discovery mission from the 2Announcement of Opportunity New Frontiers opportunity.

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

Planetary Science $1,361 $1,420 $1,458 $1,503 

Dawn Image of Ceres on January 13, 2015
Astrophysics

 Supports operating missions: SOFIA, Hubble, NuSTAR, Kepler, 

Chandra, Swift, and Fermi.

 Funds development of Explorer missions TESS and NICER. TES

continue the search for exoplanets, scanning all of the sky for Excloser to Earth than those found by Kepler.

 Supports pre-formulation studies for WFIRST/AFTA. Maintains a competed astrophysics research program and suppo

balloon program. 

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

Astrophysics $709 $727 $770 $1,006 
James Webb Space Telescop

 Supports the commitment of an October 2018 

launch date.

 Will deliver the Integrated Science Instrument 

Module for integration;

 Completes integration of flight primary mirror 

subassemblies onto the flight primary mirror backplane;

 Completes acceptance testing of the cryocooler

compressor assembly;

 Completes spacecraft bus structure; and Completes the sunshield structure manufacture 

and test.

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

JWST $620 $569 $535 $305 
Heliophysics

 Continues Solar Orbiter Collab

partnership with ESA, with planSOC in 2018. 

 Continues development of ICO

launch) and Solar Probe Plus (launch).

 Formulates GOLD, a recent Ex

selection.

 Supports the DRIVE initiative, t

priority of the 2013 Decadal Su

 Operates over 18 Heliophysics 

individual spacecraft), and mairesearch program.

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

Heliophysics $651 $685 $698 $708 

MMS
Aeronautics

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

Aeronautics $571 $580 $588 $597 

 Aeronautics research contributes to the nation’s economic growth and jo

through pioneering transformative capabilities that enable U.S. aviation imaintain and advance its global leadership.

 Continues to enable the implementation of NextGen with development a

revolutionary air traffic management tools that will increase the efficiency transportation system while ensuring the safety level.

 Develops new concepts and technologies for air vehicles that will drastic

efficiency while minimizing environmental impact.

 Advances technologies that will enable routine access 

and safe operation of UAS in the NAS.

 Increases research investments in exciting and emerging 

areas in autonomous systems such as small UAS operation at low altitude, low carbon propulsion such as hybrid electric power and propulsion, and system-wide safety assurance.

 Funds convergent research to generate breakthrough 

new ideas integrating traditional and non-traditional aeronautics technological advancements.
Space Technology 

Outyears are 

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

Space Technology $725 $736 $747 $758 

 Conducts six in-space demonstrations of crosscutting 

technologies: deep space atomic clock, a green propellant 

alternative to hydrazine, and four small spacecraft. 

 Develops a high-powered solar electric propulsion 

capability to meet demands by U.S. aerospace industry, and for future NASA exploration missions. 

 Continues progress toward a 2019 demonstration of 

space-to-ground laser communications.

 Improves US aerospace industry capabilities by validating 

large-scale composite structures for aerospace applications such as SLS.

 Enables deep-space exploration by advancing life-support, thermal management, an

protection systems for spacecraft such as Orion.

 Supports U.S. research and development with investments in small businesses to s

the benefit of NASA, US aerospace and high tech industries; and engages academia tresearch, and solicit the U.S. aerospace community for technologies at the “tipping po

 Development of foundational technologies to support future outer planets missions

 Leads technology transfer and commercialization activities across the agency, extend

NASA’s technology investments so they have a direct and measurable impact on da
Providing the necessary resources to advance the Nation’s space e

plan and ensure that the United States remains the world's leader 

exploration and scientific discovery.
Asteroid Initiative Overview

NASA’s Asteroid Initiative will enable enhanced capabilities for detecting Near-Earth Objects and a human rendezvous with an asteroid in the mid-2020’s that prepares for human missions to Mars. NASA is 

committed to pursuing the Asteroid Redirect Mission in an affordable and feasible manner. The initiative will leverage and align existing activities:

– Asteroid observing efforts to identify and characterize 

asteroids (in Science); 

– Demonstration of high power long life solar electric 

propulsion (in Space Technology);

– Development of SLS rocket and Orion crew vehicle for 

human space flight beyond low Earth orbit (in Exploration Systems); and

– Development of new capabilities for exploration in 

deep space (in ISS and Exploration R&D).

The Budget supports formulation of the asteroid mission, including advancing solar electric propulsion and capture systems.
Exploration Systems Developm

 Provides necessary funding for SLS, Orion and associated Explo

Systems (EGS).

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

ESD $2,863 2,896 2,972 3,096 

 Focuses on preparing for the first 

Exploration Mission (EM-1), the first pairing of Orion and SLS. 

 Increases the manufacturing of components 

for Orion and SLS in preparation for EM-1.

 SLS will integrate the first core stage and 

prepare it for testing, while Orion will begin assembly, integration and testing of the EM-1 Crew Module.

 Continues modifications to the Kennedy 

Space Center’s Launch Complex 39-B, Vehicle Assembly building and Launch Control Center. 
Commercial Spaceflight 

 Continues NASA’s partnership with U.S. commercial 

space industry to develop and operate safe, reliable, and affordable systems to transport crew to and from the ISS and low Earth Orbit.

 Assures U.S. access to the ISS, bolsters American 

leadership, and reduces our dependence on Russian spaceflight capabilities for crew transportation.

 Builds on successes of the commercial cargo capabilities, 

the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) activities, and Commercial Crew integrated Capability (CCiCap) activities.

 Ensures contracted services meet the Agency’s crew 

transportation system certification requirements.

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

Commercial Spaceflight $1,244 $1,185 $732 $173 
Exploration Research and Develop

 Includes the Human Research Program (HRP) and the Advanced 

Systems (AES) activities. 

– HRP researches the human system to provide countermeasures, k

technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive hummissions.

– AES pioneers new approaches for rapidly developing prototype sy

demonstrates key capabilities, and validates operational concepts missions beyond Earth orbit.

– AES maintains critical competencies at the NASA centers and is se

increase the use of that expertise in public-private partnership. AEwith the Science Mission Directorate and Space Technology Missiorobotic missions and technologies that meet science and exploratio

 HRP will conduct an identical twin study based on the one-year cre

(March 2015-March 2016) which will allow scientists to gain insight time genetic effects of space flight and its impacts on the human bomolecular level.

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

Exploration R&D $399 $402 595 $995 
International Space Station

 As the world’s only crewed space-based multinational research l

and technology test bed, ISS is critical to the future of human exand to learning how to live and work in space. 

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

ISS $3,106 $3,274 $3,641 $3,826 

 Enables:

– Scientists to identify and quantify risks, develop 

countermeasures, and develop & test technologies that protect astronauts during extended human space missions. 

– Competitively selected unique research and development 

opportunities in the areas of biological and physical processes.

– Use of ISS as a platform for current and future Earth and Space 

Science observing instruments.

– Commercial demand driven market in LEO (transportation and 

commercial research uses)

 Maintains the ISS international partnership & sustains 

NASA’s success in transitioning the ISS cargo supply function to American private industry.

 Supports development of in-space robotic servicing 

technology and capabilities.
Space and Flight Support

 Continues providing mission critical space communications and na

services to customer missions, including human, science, and comand cargo missions. 

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

SFS $898 $917 $864 $845 

 Continues the replenishment of Tracking Data Relay 

Satellite (TDRS) fleet and modernization of the aging Space Network via the Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment project. 

 Supports the readiness and health of the crew for all 

NASA human space flight endeavors.

 Provides safe, reliable, and cost-effective launch 

services for three NASA payloads in FY 2016 and gives launch-related support to over 40 NASA scientific spacecraft missions in various phases of development. 

 Continues to strategically manage NASA’s rocket 

testing core capability to meet US rocket testing requirements.
Education

 Continues to align education efforts within the 

Agency to the Administration’s Five-year Federal Strategic Plan on STEM Education. 

 Supports the Office of Education efforts 

through evidence-based competitive processes to ensure the best use of NASA assets to meet the Nation’s education goals. Collaborates with other agencies in areas of STEM education where the Federal government can have maximum impact.

Outye

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

Education $89 $90 $92 $93 

 Continues the Agency’s investment in the Space Grant, EPSCoR

MUREP. Also maintains a focus on Minority Serving Institutions community colleges, which generally serve a high proportion of mstudents and prepare them for entry into the STEM workforce ana four-year institution.
Safety, Security, and Mission Service

Construction

 Safety, Security, and Mission Services

– Funds ongoing operations of NASA Centers and major component faci

a safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible workplace.

– Provides independent technical and safety oversight of NASA missions – Establishes Agency-wide requirements and capabilities that improve co

efficiency, and effectiveness.

– Ensures core services are ready and available for performing mission r

responsibilities.

 Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration

– Funds repair, revitalization, demolition, and recapitalization projects tha

Agency’s footprint and provide efficient, modernized facilities.

– Constructs new or modified facilities to conduct NASA’s program missi

– Manages NASA’s environmental clean-up responsibilities.

($M) 2016 2017 2018 2019 

SS&MS $2,843 $2,886 $2,929 $2,97Construction & ECR $465 $436 $443 $449 

Outye

Serve t

public an

our M

effectiv

our peo

capab

infra

Expand the frontiers 

of knowledge, 

capability, and 

opportunity in space

Advance understanding 

of Earth and develop 

technologies to 

improve the quality of 

life on our home planet

OUR MISSION

Drive advances in science, 

technology, aeronautics, 

and space exploration to 

enhance knowledge, 

education, innovation, 

economic vitality, and 

stewardship of Earth

Strategic Plan
Acronyms

• AES: Advanced Exploration Systems• CCDev: Commercial Crew Development• CCP: Commercial Crew Program• CRS: Cargo Resupply Services• CYGNSS: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System• DSCOVR: Deep Space Climate Observatory• ECR: Environmental Compliance and Restoration • EGS: Exploration Ground Systems • EFT: Exploration Flight Test• ELV: Expendable Launch Vehicle• EM: Exploration Mission• EPSCoR: Experimental Program to Stimulate 

Competitive Research

• ESA: European Space Agency• ESD: Exploration Systems Development• EVA: Extravehicular Activity• EVI: Earth Venture Instrument• EVS: Earth Venture Sub-Orbital solicitation• FTE: Full Time Equivalent• GLOBE: Global Learning and Observations to Benefit 

the Environment

• GOES: Geostationary Operational Environmental 

Satellite

• GOLD: Global Scale Observations of the Limb and Disk• GPM: Global Precipitation Mission• GRACE: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment • HRP: Human Research Program• ICESat: Ice Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite• ICON: Ionospheric Connection Explorer• IRIS: Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph• ISS: International Space Station• JASD: Joint Agency Satellite Division• JPSS: Joint Polar Satellite System• JWST: James Webb Space Telescope

• JUNO: Jupiter Uranus Neptune Outr• LADEE: Lunar Atmosphere Dust Env• LDCM: Landsat Data Continuity Miss• LWS: Living With a Star• LSP: Launch Services Program• MAVEN: Mars Atmosphere and Vola• MMS: Magnetospheric Multiscale Mi• MoO: Missions-of-Opportunity• MSL: Mars Science Laboratory• MPCV: Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle• MUREP: Minority University researc• NOAA: National Oceanographic and 

Administration

• NICER: Neutron Star Interior Compo• NPP: NPOESS Preparatory Project• OCO: Orbiting Carbon Observatory• OSIRIS-Rex: Origins Spectral Interpr

Identification Security Regolith Expl

• POES: Polar Operational Environme

• R&D: Research & Development• SAGE: Stratospheric Aerosol and Ga• SET: Space Environment Testbeds• SFS: Space and Flight Support• SLS: Space Launch System• SMAP: Soil Moisture Active-Passive • SOFIA: Stratospheric Observatory fo• ST: Space Technology• STEM: Science, Technology, Engine• SWOT: Surface Water and Ocean To• TCTE: Total Solar Irradiance Calibra• TDRS: Tracking and Data Relay Sate• TEMPO: Tropospheric Emissions Mo• TESS: Transiting Exoplanet Survey s• WFIRST: Wide Field Infra Red Surve

Astrophysics Focused Telescope As