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How Trump learned to stop worrying and love space science

by Mark R. Whittington, opinion contributor - 10/25/26 10:00 AM ET

by Mark R. Whittington, opinion contributor - 10/25/26 10:00 AM ET

President Donald Trump speaks before participating in a Congressional Space Medal of Honor ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Ars Technica has reported that two NASA Venus probes have escaped the Trump White House budget axe. The development represents a subtle and welcome development concerning the administration’s attitude toward science missions that are not directly related to the Artemis return to the moon program.

The Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging, or DAVINCI, mission will take off a year earlier than previously scheduled in December 2030.…