MOSCOW, Mar 10 The White House's fiscal year 2024 federal budget proposal calls for Russia to be replaced as a US partner in one of the Mars exploration projects, according to a document released by the White House on Thursday.
«The budget provides for an increase in funding for two missions to Mars that are partners with the European Space Agency, including in one of them the United States is replacing Russia as a partner,» the text of the document says.
In addition, the budget provides for the financing of a space tug, «which will reduce dependence on Russia and help prepare for a new era of commercial space stations built in the USA».
In total, the document proposed by the US administration requests about $70.5 billion to finance projects of the State Department, the US Agency for International Development, as well as other international programs. This amount is $7 billion (11%) more than in 2023.