NASA is once again at the center of the United States political agenda. The space agency is facing a new challenge that could significantly alter its operations in the coming months. What had been a routine mission has now become the center of controversy.
The agency has received an ultimatum from the White House in recent hours. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has sent a clear and forceful message. They must follow an instruction that will change the course of one of NASA's most valuable programs.
Donald Trump orders NASA to eliminate two satellites
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has issued an urgent order requiring the space agency to get rid of two satellites. This last-minute decision has surprised the scientific community. It directly affects missions related to climate change.
According to NPR, Trump demands that NASA act quickly. The goal: destroy as soon as possible the satellites responsible for measuring carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and assessing crop health. This blow will affect farmers, researchers, and companies in the energy sector, who depend on this data for their daily activities.
Trump's decision affects two orbiting observatories. These satellites provided information about carbon dioxide concentration and other environmental indicators. Although they still had more than three years of useful life left, the President has determined that they must be taken out of service immediately.
However, Donald Trump hasn't explained the reasons that led him to make this decision with NASA. It seems, despite what many might think, that it wouldn't be motivated by economic factors.
According to David Crisp, a NASA scientist who retired in 2022, keeping these satellites active cost only $15 million a year. However, Trump's orders leave no room for negotiation. NASA will have to follow the presidential directive and plan the destruction of these devices.
NASA in the spotlight
This drastic change of course has raised concern in some sectors. There are experts who are already warning that this measure calls into question the United States' leadership in space exploration and environmental research.
Despite everything, this isn't the first time the Trump administration has clashed with NASA's lines of work. During his term, the President has shown reluctance toward programs linked to climate change, prioritizing other, more high-profile space projects. Now, with this direct order, the White House is marking a new turning point in the relationship between the government and the space agency.