“NASA also wants to provide faster, more economical and more efficient aircraft.”

NASA wants to commit itself to faster, more economical and more efficient aircraft. NASA chief Bill Nelson said this Monday evening during his annual address. The space organization has a budget of more than $25 billion and has big plans. “NASA wants to reduce annual fuel consumption in aircraft by up to 30 percent,” says space expert Rob van den Berg from the Sonnenburg Observatory in Utrecht.

NASA's budget is a little smaller this year than last, but the organization wants to do great things with more than $25 billion. Nelson gave a summary of the plans Monday evening and talked about the usual stuff. “About missions to the Moon and Mars and also a mission to Jupiter and Saturn,” says van den Berg.

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However, something else stood out during Nelson's speech. NASA wants to make a commitment not only to space travel and science, but also to society. “They also want to make sure there are faster, more economical and more efficient planes,” he added. “They want to reduce the annual fuel consumption of planes by up to 30 percent.”

NASA also cooperates with commercial parties

In addition, attention is also given to space debris, which is becoming an increasing problem. There is space debris, of course, but there is also more and more man-made space debris. There are satellites that no longer work, or satellites that collide with each other. “Eventually, the International Space Station will also have to deal with it. NASA uses all kinds of technologies to ensure that space debris falls safely and produces less debris.

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The space organization's budget is enormous, but according to van den Berg, there is always tension. NASA needs the budget now, but there are no immediate results, because the returns are for the future. The American organization now also works with commercial parties. “These are companies that are expected to be able to take a competitive position. They may soon be able to provide services that NASA has always developed and funded itself at a much lower cost.”