How Will the Money be Spent?

NASA’s 2012 $17.8 billion budget leaves no room for excess. It is $924 million less than Obama asked for, and $648 million less than the funding of the previous year. So where does all that money go? NASA is focusing the bulk of its funding on 3 major areas: $3.8 billion for Space Exploration, $4.2 billion for Space Operations, and $5.1 billion for Science Programs. A major project that will be getting financed out of the Science Programs is the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This telescope is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, and once made will focus on studying the birth and evolution of galaxies, and the formation of stars and planets. Unfortunately due to delays other programs will have to be cut in order to finance the JWST. This could result in job losses and less cash flow to other parts of the economy. NASA has a tough challenge to face: accomplishing its ever growing goals with considerably less money.

Picture: http://topnews.net.nz/content/23975-national-research-council-report-basic-research-nasa-decline

Link: http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/

Source: Teitel, Amy Shira. "A Mixed Bag for NASA's 2012 Budget : Discovery News." Discovery News. Discovery, 02 Dec. 2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. <http://news.discovery.com/space/nasa-2012-budget-ups-downs-111202.html>.