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NASA Partner Agency Faces Staff Reductions Amid Cost-Cutting Measures
A crucial office within the federal government, heavily relied upon by NASA for safely landing astronauts on the moon and dispatching robotic probes to Mars, is encountering pressure to reduce its experienced team of specialists by at least 20 percent. This staff reduction at the Astrogeology Science Center, a vital component in planetary exploration, raises concerns about future space missions.
Expert Team at Astrogeology Science Center Targeted for Downsizing
The downsizing has commenced at the Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, sources indicate, stemming from voluntary resignation proposals initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency. Further personnel cuts are anticipated in the coming weeks, following a new solicitation for early retirements and resignations issued on April 4. This center, a division of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Department of the Interior, is subject to cost-saving initiatives circulated across the federal government in January.
Representatives from the Interior Department, the USGS, and the Astrogeology Science Center have not responded to requests for comments regarding the potential impacts of these staff reductions.
Potential Impact on Future Mars Missions
These cuts could have implications for future crewed missions to Mars, a significant objective for figures like Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, who envisions making human life multiplanetary.
“Gold Standard” Mapping Expertise at Risk
Matthew Golombek, a geophysicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory with extensive experience in selecting landing sites for Mars probes, lauded the Astrogeology Science Center’s precision mapping as “the gold standard” in the planetary science community.
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Deep Staff Cuts Threaten Expertise
At the beginning of the year, the office employed 53 individuals. Eight are already slated to depart, and more are being encouraged to consider the latest voluntary separation offer.
Dr. Golombek emphasized the center’s experts’ indispensable role in “just about all the landing-site selections” due to their superior mapping capabilities. He warned that diminishing this “cadre of incredibly experienced and knowledgeable people” would inevitably result in “inferior products.”
Implications for Lunar and Martian Programs
The consequences of reducing the office’s team of interplanetary cartographers could be substantial. Jared Isaacman, President Biden’s nominee to lead NASA, recently indicated plans to accelerate efforts to send astronauts to Mars alongside existing lunar mission initiatives.
One researcher at the Flagstaff office, known as “Astro,” expressed apprehension that the loss of personnel due to budget reallocations could jeopardize vital projects in mapping and planetary science. This includes identifying hidden water-ice deposits on Mars, resources considered critical for human exploration.
Projects at Risk Due to Personnel Losses
“I cannot fathom removing 10 individuals at random from the remaining 40-plus staff without causing the cancellation of entire projects,” the researcher stated.
Seniority and Expertise Loss Highlighted as Major Concerns
Even the departure of just five staff members, particularly those in senior positions or with specialized knowledge, would place the office in a precarious situation, the researcher added.
Two employees familiar with the “deferred resignation/retirement program” disclosed the latest call for volunteers during recent staff meetings. They requested anonymity to safeguard their government careers. Mandatory layoffs, or reductions in force, could ensue if insufficient employees volunteer, one employee noted.
Astrogeology Center’s Critical Role in Space Exploration
Astrogeology is an interdisciplinary field, drawing on expertise from terrestrial disciplines such as mineralogy, volcanology, and geography to support space exploration. While the USGS Astrogeology Center is part of the Interior Department, it collaborates closely with NASA and is “almost entirely funded by NASA,” according to budget documents. For decades, the center’s experts have been instrumental in creating detailed topographical maps of Mars, the moon, and other celestial bodies, as well as developing strategic plans and scientific objectives for numerous NASA missions.
Historical Contributions and Legacy of Expertise
Center scientists provided essential lunar geology training to Apollo astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, enhancing their collection of rock samples. This training is being revived for NASA’s Artemis program, aimed at returning astronauts to the moon as early as 2027.
The office’s geology specialists played a crucial role in helping NASA identify alternative landing sites for the Viking Mars landers in 1976 when the initial site proved too hazardous. In 2021, the Perseverance rover utilized the center’s maps and software for autonomous and safe landing on the Martian surface.
Christopher Edwards, a planetary science professor at Northern Arizona University, near the Astrogeology office, noted, “Perseverance was the first rover and lander to employ onboard maps directly created by the USGS team.”
Dr. Edwards explained, “They generate hazard maps, enabling the rover during descent to perform real-time comparisons with onboard maps, identifying safe landing zones.”
Commercial Space Sector Relies on USGS Expertise
Companies within the burgeoning commercial space sector also depend on the Astrogeology Science Center’s specialized knowledge.
Concerns for Future Generations of Planetary Scientists
David S. F. Portree, a former archivist and public information manager at the Astrogeology Science Center, now a historian and science writer, recounted instances where SpaceX sought assistance from the USGS. He expressed concern that staff reductions would prevent senior scientists from imparting their specialized expertise to younger researchers, hindering the future of the field. This issue extends back to previous government hiring freezes, which impacted the office’s student programs.
“It has broader implications beyond Flagstaff and Astro,” Mr. Portree emphasized. “Cutting off resources now prevents the development of the next generation of experts.”
Dr. Edwards at Northern Arizona University also voiced concern regarding potential mass firings of probationary federal employees.
“These temporary positions aren’t just for entry-level staff,” Edwards clarified. “Subject-matter experts often fill them. Dismissing them would be detrimental.”
“It’s illogical,” he concluded.