Core Viewpoint - The significant budget cuts proposed by the U.S. government for NASA are raising widespread concerns about the future of the agency's scientific projects and space exploration initiatives [1][2]. Budget Cuts Impact - The new budget proposal could lead to the termination of approximately 41 ongoing or planned scientific missions, which represents about one-third of NASA's total projects [1]. - NASA's science project funding is set to be reduced by nearly half, marking a critical crisis for the U.S. space program [1]. - The White House's Office of Management and Budget has stated that NASA's annual expenditure of over $7 billion on nearly 100 scientific missions is "unsustainable" [1]. Specific Program Cuts - The budget demands a two-thirds reduction in funding for astrophysics, affecting key missions such as the VERITAS and DAVINCI+ Venus exploration projects, which are now uncertain [3]. - The Chandra X-ray Observatory's operational budget is proposed to be cut from $69 million to zero, jeopardizing its ongoing scientific contributions [3]. - The operational funding for the MAVEN satellite, which has been collecting data in orbit around Mars since 2014, is also set to be eliminated, risking its functionality and potential crash on Mars [3]. Strategic Shift - The proposed budget indicates a fundamental shift in NASA's focus, prioritizing lunar and Martian missions over other scientific endeavors, as the Trump administration aims to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars ahead of China [3].