NASA Appropriations and Authorizations:
A Fact Sheet
name redacted
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
July 31, 2017
Congressional Research Service
7-....
www.crs.gov
R43419
NASA Appropriations and Authorizations: A Fact Sheet
C
A Fact Sheet
September 11, 2017
(R43419)
Congressional deliberations about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) often focus on the availability of funding. This fact sheet provides data on past,
current, and proposed NASA appropriations. No bills have yet been introduced in the
115th 115th Congress proposing future-year authorizations of NASA appropriations.
Additional information on appropriations legislation affecting NASA is provided in CRS Report
R44877, Overview of FY2018 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related
Agencies (CJS) and similar reports for prior years.
11 NASA issues of congressional interest are
discussed further in CRS Report R43144, NASA: Issues for Authorization, Appropriations, and
Oversight in the 114th Congress
.
.
Table 1 shows appropriations for NASA from FY2012 through FY2017.
The data for FY2012
through FY2016 include supplemental appropriations, rescissions, transfers, reprogramming, and,
in the case of FY2013, sequestration. They are taken from NASA
’'s congressional budget
justifications for FY2014 through FY2018.
22 Congressional budget justifications are available on
the NASA budget website (http://www.nasa.gov/news/budget/) for the current year and for past
years back to FY2002. The table data for FY2017 are as enacted by the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31). For amounts not specified in that act, see pp.
H3374H3375H3374-H3375 of the explanatory statement, published in the Congressional Record on May 3, 2017.
Table 2 shows enacted appropriations for FY2017 (as above); the Administration
’'s request for
FY2018; the House Committee on Appropriations recommendations for FY2018, as contained in
H.R. 3267 as reported and H.Rept. 115-231; and the Senate Committee on Appropriations
recommendations for FY2018, as contained in S. 1662 as reported and
S.Rept. 115-139.
The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of H.R. 601) provides FY2018 continuing appropriations for NASA until December 8, 2017. The rate is based on the level of FY2017 appropriations—not including $109 million in FY2017 emergency appropriations (see note to Table 2)—reduced by 0.6791 percent.
Figure 1 shows NASA's total annual budget authority from the agency's establishment in FY1958 to FY2017, in both current dollars and inflation-adjusted FY2017 dollars.
Table 1. NASA Appropriations, FY2012-FY2017
(budget authority in $ millions)
FY2012
|
FY2013
|
FY2014
|
FY2015
|
FY2016
|
FY2017
|
Science
|
Earth Science
|
Planetary Science
|
Astrophysics
|
James Webb Space Telescope
|
Heliophysics
|
Aeronautics
|
Space Technology
|
Exploration
|
Exploration Systems Development
|
Orion MPCV
|
Space Launch System
|
Exploration Ground Systems
|
Commercial Spaceflight
|
—a
—a
—a
Exploration R&D
|
Space Operations
|
Space Shuttle
|
International Space Station
|
Space Transportation
|
—b
—b
—b
n/sc
Space and Flight Support
|
Education
|
Space Grant
|
EPSCoR
|
MUREP
|
Other
|
Safety, Security, and Mission Services
|
Construction and EC&R
|
661d
470e
Inspector General
|
Total
|
17,770f
16,879d
19,762e
Sources:S.Rept. 115-139.
Figure 1 shows NASA’s total annual budget authority from the agency’s establishment in
FY1958 to FY2017, in both current dollars and inflation-adjusted FY2017 dollars.
1
See, for example, CRS Report R44409, Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and
Related Agencies (CJS); CRS Report R43918, Overview of FY2016 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science,
and Related Agencies (CJS); CRS Report R43509, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2015
Appropriations, CRS Report R43080, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2014 Appropriations;
CRS Report R42440, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2013 Appropriations; and CRS Report
R41721, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2012 Appropriations.
2
FY2016 Education amounts are not shown in the FY2018 congressional budget justification and are instead taken
from the explanatory statement for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113), Congressional Record,
December 17, 2015, pp. H9741-H9743.
Congressional Research Service
1
NASA Appropriations and Authorizations: A Fact Sheet
Table 1. NASA Appropriations, FY2012-FY2017
(budget authority in $ millions)
Science
Earth Science
Planetary Science
FY2012
$5,074
1,761
FY2013
$4,782
1,659
FY2014
$5,148
1,825
FY2015
$5,243
1,784
FY2016
$5,584
1,927
FY2017
$5,765
1,921
1,501
1,275
1,346
1,447
1,628
1,846
Astrophysics
648
617
678
731
762
750
James Webb Space Telescope
519
628
658
645
620
569
Heliophysics
645
603
641
636
647
679
Aeronautics
569
530
566
642
634
660
Space Technology
Exploration
Exploration Systems Development
574
615
576
600
686
687
3,707
3,706
4,113
3,543
3,996
4,324
3,002
2,884
3,115
3,212
3,641
3,929
- Orion MPCV
1,200
1,114
1,197
1,190
1,270
1,350
- Space Launch System
1,497
1,415
1,600
1,679
1,972
2,150
305
355
318
343
399
429
406
525
696
—a
—a
—a
- Exploration Ground Systems
Commercial Spaceflight
Exploration R&D
Space Operations
Space Shuttle
International Space Station
Space Transportation
Space and Flight Support
300
297
302
331
355
395
4,184
3,725
3,774
4,626
5,032
4,951
596
39
0
8
5
0
2,790
2,776
2,964
1,525
1,436
n/s
—b
—b
—b
2,254
2,668
n/sc
798
910
810
839
923
n/s
136
116
117
119
115
100
Space Grant
39
37
40
40
40
40
EPSCoR
17
17
18
18
18
18
MUREP
30
28
30
32
32
32
Other
50
34
29
29
25
10
2,994
2,711
2,769
Education
Safety, Security, and Mission Services
Construction and EC&R
Inspector General
Total
2,793
2,755
2,772
495
661d
522
446
427
470e
38
35
38
37
37
38
17,647
18,010
19,285
17,770f
16,879d
19,762e
Sources: FY2012-FY2016 from NASA FY2014-FY2018 congressional budget justifications. FY2017 from P.L. 115-31
and explanatory statement, Congressional Record, May 3, 2017, pp. H3374-H3375. See text for details.
Notes: Some totals may not add because of rounding. MPCV = Multipurpose Crew Vehicle. R&D = Research and
Development. EPSCoR = Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. MUREP = Minority University
Research and Education Program. EC&R = Environmental Compliance and Remediation. n/s = not specified.
a.
a.
Included in Space Transportation under Space Operations.
b.
b.
Commercial Crew funded under Exploration. Remainder of Space Transportation included in International
Space Station.
c.
c.
Includes up to $1,185 million for Commercial Crew.
d.
d.
Includes $14 million (after sequestration) of supplemental funding from the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act,
2013 (P.L. 113-2) that is not shown in the NASA FY2015 congressional budget justification.
e.
e.
Includes $109 million in emergency funding (from Sec. 540 of P.L. 115-31) for repairs at NASA facilities
damaged by natural disasters.
f.
f.
Includes rescission of $1 million from prior-year accounts not shown in the table.
Congressional Research Service
2
NASA Appropriations and Authorizations: A Fact Sheet
Table 2. NASA Appropriations, FY2017-FY2018
(budget authority in $ millions)
FY2018
Science
FY2017 Total
H. Cte.
$5,765
$5,712
$5,859
S. Cte. Enacted
$5,572
Earth Science
1,921
1,754
1,704
1,921
Planetary Science
1,846
1,930
2,121
1,612
Astrophysics
750
817
822
817
James Webb Space Telescope
569
534
534
534
Heliophysics
679
678
678
689
Aeronautics
660
624
660
650
Space Technology
687
679
687
700
4,324
3,934
4,550
4,395
Exploration
Exploration Systems Development
3,929
3,584
4,100
4,045
- Orion MPCV
1,350
1,186
1,350
1,350
- Space Launch System
2,150
1,938
2,150
2,150
429
460
600
545
395
350
450
350
- Exploration Ground Systems
Exploration R&D
Space Operations
4,951
4,741
4,677
4,752
International Space Station
n/s
1,491
n/s
n/s
Space Transportation
n/sa
2,415
n/s
2,415
Space and Flight Support
n/s
835
n/s
n/s
100
37
90
100
Space Grant
40
n/s
40
40
EPSCoR
18
n/s
18
18
MUREP
32
n/s
32
32
Other
10
n/s
0
10
2,769
Education
Safety, Security, and Mission Services
Construction and EC&R
Inspector General
Total
2,830
2,826
2,827
470b
496
486
496
38
39
38
38
19,092
19,872
19,529
19,762b
Sources:
(budget authority in $ millions)
FY2018
|
FY2017
|
Request
|
H. Cte.
|
S. Cte.
|
Enacted
|
Science
|
Earth Science
|
Planetary Science
|
Astrophysics
|
James Webb Space Telescope
|
Heliophysics
|
Aeronautics
|
Space Technology
|
Exploration
|
Exploration Systems Development
|
- Orion MPCV
|
- Space Launch System
|
- Exploration Ground Systems
|
Exploration R&D
|
Space Operations
|
International Space Station
|
Space Transportation
|
n/sa
Space and Flight Support
|
Education
|
Space Grant
|
EPSCoR
|
MUREP
|
Other
|
Safety, Security, and Mission Services
|
Construction and EC&R
|
470b
Inspector General
|
Total
|
19,762b
Sources: FY2017 from P.L. 115-31 and explanatory statement, Congressional Record, May 3, 2017, pp.
H3374H3375H3374-H3375. FY2018 request from FY2018 NASA congressional budget justification. FY2018 House committee from
H.R. 3267 as reported
and HandH.Rept. 115-231. FY2018 Senate committee from S. 1662 as reported
and SandS.Rept.
115-139. See text for details.
Notes: Some totals may not add because of rounding. MPCV = Multipurpose Crew Vehicle. R&D = Research
and Development. EPSCoR = Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. MUREP = Minority
University Research and Education Program. EC&R = Environmental Compliance and Remediation. n/s = not
specified.
a.
a.
Includes up to $1,185 million for Commercial Crew.
b.
b.
Includes $109 million in emergency funding (from Sec. 540 of P.L. 115-31) for repairs at NASA facilities
damaged by natural disasters.
Congressional Research Service
3
NASA Appropriations and Authorizations: A Fact Sheet
Figure 1. NASA Funding, FY1958-FY2017
Figure 1. NASA Funding, FY1958-FY2017
Source: FY1958-FY2008 from National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Aeronautics and Space Report of
the President: Fiscal Year 2008 Activities
, , http://history.nasa.gov/presrep2008.pdf, Table D-1A. FY2009-FY2011 from
NASA congressional budget justifications, FY2011-FY2013. FY2012-FY2017 as in Table 1. Current dollars
deflated to FY2017 dollars using GDP (chained) price index from President
’'s budget for FY2018, Historical Table
10.1, https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/budget/fy2018/hist10z1.xls
.
.
Note:
Transition quarter between FY1976 and FY1977 not shown.
Author Contact Information
[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
Footnotes
1.
|
See, for example, CRS Report R44409, Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS); CRS Report R43918, Overview of FY2016 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS); CRS Report R43509, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2015 Appropriations, CRS Report R43080, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2014 Appropriations; CRS Report R42440, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2013 Appropriations; and CRS Report R41721, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2012 Appropriations.
|
2.
|
FY2016 Education amounts are not shown in the FY2018 congressional budget justification and are instead taken from the explanatory statement for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113), Congressional Record, December 17, 2015, pp. H9741-H9743.
|
Transition quarter between FY1976 and FY1977 not shown.
Author Contact Information
(name redacted)
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
/redacted/@crs.loc.gov , 7-....
Congressional Research Service
4
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