Science | Mars $4M NASA Cut May Strand Mars Rover Shrinking budget could also leave 300 jobless By Zach Samalin Posted Mar 24, 2008 8:38 PM CDT Copied NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity snaps a picture after a long drive. Opportunity will continue to rove, but its sister vehicle, Spirit, will be put to sleep following a $4M budget cut. (AP Photo/NASA) NASA confirmed and denied plans today to scuttle a Mars rover and fire 300 employees, CNN reports. The space agency first announced a $4 million cut to the Mars program's $20 million budget and vowed to unplug one of two rovers roaming the red planet. Then a NASA spokesman told CNN that "the cancellation of the Mars Exploration Rovers is not under consideration." "There is a process that has to be followed," he said. "There is an ongoing budget review within the agency's Mars exploration program." The proposed cut would offset overruns on a new rover called the Mars Science Laboratory; the program faces another $8 million cut for fiscal year 2009. For now NASA has two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, combing the planet's rocky soil for signs of water. Read These Next Trumps ends trade talks with Canada. Gavin Newsom has filed a massive lawsuit against Fox News. New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. Supreme Court is a yes on age checks for porn sites. Report an error