The future of the sample return program, which aims to bring rocks and dust collected by the Perseverance rover on the Martian surface back to Earth in 2033 for a “detailed chemical and physical analysis,” is being examined by an independent review board, according to NASA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) stated that about 530 employees, approximately 8 percent of the workforce, and an additional 40 contractors will be affected by the cuts. The laboratory, which has about 6,300 employees, has a history of accomplishments including building Explorer 1, the first American satellite, and designing and remotely operating spacecraft such as the Viking that first landed on Mars, the Galileo probe of Jupiter and its moons, and Cassini’s 14-year journey around Saturn.
Despite current challenges, JPL will continue to contribute to upcoming NASA missions as stated by Nelson. Rep. Judy Chu, who is leading efforts to prevent job cuts at the lab, expressed disappointment in the decision and emphasized the negative impact it will have in both the short and long term. She vowed to keep fighting to reverse the budget cuts and expressed optimism for reaching a deal with the Biden administration to restore funding necessary to rehire workers.
More than 40 California lawmakers raised concerns about the decision to reduce funding to the Mars Sample Return mission, expressing worries that the cuts could lead to the cancellation of the program without Congressional authorization. They urged the White House budget director, Shalanda Young, to obtain a plan from NASA to complete the next stage of the mission, maintain the program’s budget, and avoid further “premature” cuts. This letter, signed by 44 lawmakers, was led by Chu, Rep. Adam Schiff, and Sen. Alex Padilla.
In November, six California lawmakers called on NASA to reverse its decision to proactively cut funding and to wait for the appropriations process to unfold before making adjustments. They emphasized that this decision is “short-sighted and misguided” and could result in the loss of hundreds of jobs and a decade of lost scientific progress. These lawmakers highlighted the significance of the workforce at JPL and expressed concerns about the potential impact if this talent is lost to the private sector.
