Lack of funds, NASA representatives skip global space meet in Delhi
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Bengaluru: Representatives from US space agency NASA were unable to attend a space conference held in Delhi owing to lack of funds to make it to the meet, The Indian Express reported citing sources.
The Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX) – 2025 on Wednesday saw over 1,700 delegates including ten astronauts and officials from space agencies representing China, Japan, Canada and Europe attending the meet.
At least a dozen NASA members were expected to be in New Delhi where representatives from 35 countries showed up.
The NASA scientists or astronauts could not attend the meeting jointly organized by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and hosted by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) due to lack of funds to support their travel, according to sources in the organizing committee.
Returning to power, President Trump announced fund slashing for the fiscal year 2026 to agency alongside cancelling or stalling ongoing space missions such as one involving Mars.
A record delegate registration in the history of the international conference was seen at the GLEX meet that India hosted for the first time.
An IAF member involved in organizing the event reportedly said that the US space agency, leading space agencies of the world, is witnessing a transition.
