NASA Faces Challenges Amid Trump-Musk Space Policy

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her team returned from a prolonged nine-month mission at the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, highlighting NASA's challenges with private contractors. Donald Trump’s return to power, with Elon Musk as an ally and now head of the Department of Government Efficiency, has sparked debates on NASA’s future direction, notably a shift toward Mars exploration and cuts to climate research funding. Trump, who has praised Musk's contributions, has even offered to cover astronaut compensation costs personally. The Senate's NASA budget bill appears to resist Trump's and Musk's proposed changes, maintaining existing funding levels and programs. The evolving relationship between NASA, Trump, and Musk continues to impact space policy amidst these developments.