Trump Closes NASA Missions That Monitor Methane Gas

• The Trump administration plans to close NASA missions that monitor methane gas.
• Congress may approve funding for the missions by September 30.
• Scientists assert that closing the missions will hinder climate research.

The Trump administration has decided to close two NASA missions that monitor methane gas emissions and greenhouse gases. This could lead to a loss of critical data for scientists, policymakers, and farmers.

The budget request from President Donald Trump for 2026 does not allocate funding for orbital observatories that could precisely indicate where methane gas is emitted and also how to grow cultures. NASA stated in an electronic letter that these missions "have gone beyond their primary mission" and are being closed "for accountability with current spending and the president's budget priorities."

However, these missions, which include an unmanned satellite launched in 2014 and a probe attached to the International Space Station in 2019, are more sensitive and accurate than any other systems in the world, and their data collection, asserts David Crisp, a former NASA scientist.

These missions help scientists determine that, for example, tropical forests in the Amazon emit more methane gas than they absorb, while real forests in Canada and Russia absorb more than they emit. They can also identify "light" photosynthesis in plants, which helps monitor droughts and predict food shortages.

Scientists are hopeful that Congress will advocate for the preservation of funding for these missions, which are funded until September 30. However, the bill in the House of Representatives proposes the closure of missions, while the Senate version keeps them intact. Through the channels of Congress, it is unknown whether the budget will be included at the beginning of the new fiscal year on January 1.

Scientists note that the decision to close missions is "very short-sighted" and does not address the need for climate management worldwide.

Crisp and others are trying to create a coalition with partners across the globe that could fund and operate the project on the ISS. NASA stated that it will accept external proposals until September 29.

The satellite that flies freely, under threat, could be destroyed when it burns up in the atmosphere. They are also facing legal hurdles for transferring control to another partner.

Tags: USA/Politics/Technology/Space/Weather