NASA is grappling with significant financial challenges that could reshape operations aboard the International Space Station (ISS), including possible reductions in crew size and scaled-back research activities.
ISS seen from the departing Atlantis space shuttle, 23 May 2010.
At a May 20 press conference discussing the upcoming Axiom Space Ax-4 private astronaut mission, Dana Weigel, NASA’s ISS program manager, confirmed the agency is already contending with a “multi-year” budget shortfall. This comes even before proposed cuts in the Biden administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget request, which includes a $500 million reduction in ISS funding—part of a broader $6 billion cut to NASA’s overall budget.
The preliminary budget document, known as the “skinny” budget, suggests trimming ISS crew numbers and narrowing the focus of station-based research to projects directly supporting future Moon and Mars missions. Specifics, however, have not been released.
“We’ve been managing through cumulative budget reductions for years now,” Weigel said, citing ongoing financial constraints, including a continuing resolution that has kept NASA funded at 2024 levels through fiscal year 2025. These constraints have impacted logistics, including cargo deliveries and crew supplies to the ISS.
While NASA has not previously discussed public concerns about cargo limitations, the issue came to light following the cancellation of a Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo flight due to shipping damage. That mission, originally scheduled for February, had already slipped to June before being scrapped in March.
Historically, NASA has conducted four to five cargo missions to the ISS annually. However, only three are currently scheduled for 2025: the ongoing SpX-32 Cargo Dragon, SpX-33 in August, and the NG-23 Cygnus mission in the fall.
As a result of the tightening cargo schedule, NASA is evaluating the option of reducing the U.S. segment crew size—from four astronauts to three. This segment also includes astronauts from Canada, Europe, and Japan. “We’re working through the assessment now,” said Weigel, emphasizing that these considerations began before the proposed 2026 budget cuts were released.
Plans for responding to the proposed budget reductions remain in development. “We haven’t really worked through specific plans for that,” Weigel noted. “We’ll take a closer look once the full president’s budget request is available.”
Despite the looming cutbacks, Weigel expressed optimism about private astronaut missions (PAMs) like the upcoming Ax-4. “Each country brings unique research contributions that broaden our scientific return,” she said. NASA has issued a call for two additional PAMs in 2026 and 2027.
The Ax-4 mission, set to launch June 8 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon, marks the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS. It will be commanded by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson and include astronauts from Hungary, India, and Poland. The crew plans to conduct approximately 60 experiments—the most of any PAM to date—as well as outreach events, including a live educational broadcast with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla.
SpaceX’s Sarah Walker, director of Dragon mission management, explained that Ax-4 faced delays due to last-minute technical issues with the Crew Dragon spacecraft. These included replacing a faulty wire harness and parachutes exposed to moisture. SpaceX has maintained a demanding launch schedule in 2025, with six Dragon missions—both crewed and cargo—planned within a six-month span.
The Ax-4 crew will also christen the new Crew Dragon vehicle, continuing a tradition of naming spacecraft upon their first voyage. While the name has yet to be revealed, Walker teased its announcement is coming soon: “No spoilers today.”
As budget pressures mount, the future of ISS operations and research will likely depend on how NASA adapts to its financial reality—balancing core scientific goals with evolving mission strategies and international partnerships.
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