Our key scientific outpost, the International Space Station (ISS), which has been in Earth orbit for more than 20 years, is entering a challenging phase a few years before its scheduled end of mission in 2030. Serious financial pressures are forcing NASA to reduce its scientific capacity and logistical capabilities, raising concerns about the future of orbital science in the coming years.
A clear indicator of the problems was the unexpected cancellation of an important annual conference on ISS research. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), which manages the ISS National Laboratory, announced the cancellation of the event scheduled for late July in Seattle (USA). In its explanation, CASIS said that after consulting with NASA, the current regulatory and budgetary situation is not conducive to holding the conference this year. This decision was announced only a month after the presentation of the President’s draft budget for the US fiscal year 2026.
A sharp reduction in funds
The draft budget 2026 provides for a significant reduction in NASA funding, by as much as $6 billion (24%) compared to the current level. This will have a direct and severe impact on the ISS. Funding for the station itself could be reduced by a quarter, from $1.24 billion to just $920 million. The budget document indicates that the cuts will affect the number of flights and the scope of research.
The consequences of budget cuts for science will be profound. The ISS research program will significantly reduce and focus exclusively on projects critical to the Moon and Mars exploration programs. This means that many other important scientific areas that have traditionally been conducted on the station – in biology, material physics, Earth observation, and other fields – may be postponed or canceled due to lack of funds. The scientific versatility of the ISS, one of its main advantages, would be jeopardized.
Logistics is under threat
Funding cuts will inevitably lead to a significant reduction in the number of cargo missions to the station. While NASA used to organize four to five cargo flights a year to supply the station, the agency has only planned three deliveries for fiscal year 2025. This affects not only scientific experiments that require equipment and materials, but also basic crew support such as food, water, air, and other vital resources.
NASA ISS Program Manager Dana Weigel confirmed during a briefing in late May that the financial difficulties were not sudden. “The station is facing cumulative multi-year budget cuts. This has put us in front of some budget and resource problems, which have led to a decrease in cargo volume,” she said. These words were said before the draft budget for 2026 was published, which shows the depth of the problem.
Fewer astronauts in space, but longer missions
One of the most painful consequences of budgetary constraints could be a reduction in the number of NASA crew aboard the ISS. For more than two decades, at least four of the agency’s astronauts have been permanently stationed on the station, along with international colleagues. Now, NASA is evaluating the possibility of moving to only three representatives. A smaller crew means significantly less time and resources to conduct scientific experiments, maintain the station, and keep it running. To partially compensate for this, the organization is actively considering extending the standard duration of space missions for its astronauts from the usual six to eight months.
The future in the fog
This financial uncertainty at the ISS comes against the backdrop of its planned decommissioning in 2030. The future of a permanent human presence in low Earth orbit rests with several commercial space stations, such as Orbital Reef, Axiom Station, and Starlab, which are currently under development. However, none of them are ready to take over the baton yet. The ISS remains the only platform for continuous scientific research in orbit.
Thus, the severe budget cuts in the last years of the ISS’s operation pose a real threat of a “science gap”. Reduced research, limited logistical capabilities, and potential crew reductions could seriously slow down scientific progress at a time when the station should be operating at full capacity to prepare for future deep space missions. The question of whether it will be possible to maintain the continuity and intensity of scientific research in orbit during this transition period remains open due to financial constraints.
Earlier, we reported that NASA will not send scientists to the ISS.
Provided by SpaceNews
