The US space agency NASA has announced that its operations have been halted due to a lapse in government funding, with a notice on its website stating the agency is “closed” until further notice.

This development came immediately after the US government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, following Congress’s failure to approve temporary funding.

This is the first shutdown in six years, resulting in thousands of federal employees being furloughed, including NASA staff.

According to government directives, only personnel essential for the protection of life and property are currently working, leading to the suspension of most NASA projects, including space science research and public outreach programmes.

NASA’s daily communication activities have also been impacted. Its social media channels are inactive, and updates on ongoing missions have been delayed.

However, some critical operations continue, including monitoring astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), overseeing spacecraft operating in the solar system, and planetary defence activities such as asteroid tracking.

These tasks are deemed vital for safety and are managed by a limited staff.

The shutdown could have wide-ranging effects on NASA’s programmes and future missions.

Preparations for the Artemis programme, aimed at returning humans to the Moon, may face delays.

NASA-funded research projects have also been suspended, disrupting scientific studies and university collaborations. A prolonged funding gap could also impact NASA contractors.

This is not the first time NASA has faced such challenges. The government shutdowns of 2018-2019 similarly stalled agency projects, creating uncertainty for scientists and engineers.

As political tensions in Washington persist, it becomes increasingly difficult for NASA to continue working on major goals like lunar and Mars exploration.

Currently, no clear resolution is in sight, and NASA’s closure serves as a stark reminder of how political crises directly affect science and space research.