"A balanced portfolio prevents any one mission from going over budget, thus securing funds for other vital endeavors in NASA's science mission directorate."
"The danger to a balanced portfolio is that an expensive project can unbalance funding, leading to the underfunding or termination of necessary initiatives."
"The commitment to build a 100 kilowatt nuclear reactor on the Moon could lead to a permanent defunding of NASA science, threatening future missions."
"A sustained lunar presence requires resources such as breathable air, safe drinking water, and food, highlighting the complexity of establishing human colonies on the Moon."
NASA's science mission directorate maintains a balanced portfolio of missions, including flagship, medium, and small projects, to ensure collective success. This approach prevents any single project's budget from compromising other vital missions. A significant risk emerges if an expensive endeavor, like the new Moon nuclear reactor, causes funding to redirect from other essential research, potentially leading to termination of numerous initiatives. Sustaining a human presence on the Moon requires essential resources like air, water, and food, complicating long-term habitation plans.
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