Evan ThomasNASA's fiscal year 2017 budget request is in, and it's asking for over $19 billion.
That's less than one half of 1 percent of the $4.2 trillion in projected U.S. spending next year.
That's more or less normal for NASA, for better or for worse. But before that number clears the tower, it has to clear Washington. Expect Congress to make more adjustments.
For human exploration operations: $8.4 billion. This includes commercial crew development and continued funding for the Space Launch System. Capitol Hill likes the SLS; it's boosted the program's budget for several years now.
For science: $5.6 billion. This allocates funds for planetary and astrophysics missions, the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope and heliophysics.
NASA earmarks about $2 billion for Earth sciences, but expect the House science committee to knock this line item down. Its leadership has a history of resisting research into our climate.
For safety/security/compliance: $3.2 billion. It's just what it sounds like — to ensure safety and environmentally sound operations. Space travel is not perfect, and sometimes cleanup is needed.
Also on the list: $827 million for space technology research, $790 million for aeronautics research and $100 million for education programs.
All told it's less than the $19.3 billion NASA got for FY2016, but again — there's no telling what Congress might do with the final numbers.
This video includes clips from NASA, SpaceX and the House Committee on Space, Science and Technology.
