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NASA Reveals 2025 Budget: Challenges on the Horizon.

Space exploration is undoubtedly an expensive endeavor, and funding for such missions is always a matter of concern. Recently, the White House unveiled its budget for the fiscal year 2025, and the numbers are in. NASA, the leading space agency of the United States, is set to receive $25.4 billion, which is the same amount as the previous year but $2 billion less than what was requested by the agency.

The NASA Administrator, Bill Nelson, expressed his disappointment at the budget constraints imposed on the agency. He attributed this shortfall to a debt ceiling agreement that restricts non-defense spending, leading to a tightening of the financial belt at NASA. As a result of this deficit, NASA will be forced to reassess its budget and make cuts across various missions.

Nelson pointed fingers at a select few members of the House of Representatives, holding them responsible for linking the increase in the debt ceiling to spending caps. The $2 billion shortfall in NASA’s budget is significant, especially considering that $7.6 billion was allocated for scientific endeavors. With upcoming missions on the horizon, NASA will have to carefully evaluate its expenditures and identify areas where costs can be minimized.

One of the projects at risk of cancellation due to budget constraints is the Geospace Dynamics Constellation mission. This ambitious initiative aims to advance our knowledge of the intricate processes governing Earth’s upper atmosphere. The Earth System Observatory series of missions is also facing restructuring under the new budget, with a focus on preserving partnerships and exploring aerosol and cloud studies.

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The budget cuts will also impact iconic space exploration tools like the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray telescope. While Hubble will see a 5% reduction in funding, Chandra is set to undergo more substantial cuts, prompting minimal operations to sustain its functionality. The Mars Sample Return mission, which holds promise for scientific breakthroughs, is similarly under review due to budget constraints.

On a positive note, the Artemis program, aimed at returning humans to the Moon, remains unaffected by the budget cuts, with the full amount requested being granted. However, Artemis 5, which will mark the debut of Blue Origin’s Lunar Lander, is set to be delayed by half a year to March 2030.

In the midst of global challenges and financial constraints, Bill Nelson maintains a relatively optimistic outlook, noting that the current budget situation is milder compared to past sequestrations. While the $2 billion shortfall presents obstacles for NASA, the agency remains resilient in its commitment to advancing space exploration and scientific discovery.

Sources: NASA – President’s NASA FY 2025 Funding Supports US Space, Climate Leadership and Space.com – NASA chief Bill Nelson promises a ‘fight’ for agency’s 2025 budget request

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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

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The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.