Trump wants NASA out of space station by 2025, businesses in

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FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2006, file photo, made available by NASA, astronaut Robert L. Curbeam Jr., left, and European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, participate in a space walk during construction of the International Space Station. Under President Donald Trump’s 2019 proposed budget released, Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, U.S. government funding for the space station would cease by 2025. The government would set aside $150 million to encourage commercial development. (NASA via AP, File)

trump-budget-nasa

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The Trump administration wants NASA out of the International Space Station by 2025, and private businesses running the place instead.

Under President Donald Trump’s 2019 proposed budget released Monday, U.S. government funding for the space station would cease by 2025. The government would set aside $150 million to encourage commercial development.

Many in the space arena have already expressed concern. Senator Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat who rocketed into orbit in 1986, said it makes no sense to walk away from the space station.

NASA has spent close to $100 billion on the orbiting outpost since the 1990s.

Altogether, the budget seeks to increase NASA’s budget slightly to $19.6 billion.