( CNN ) -- As scientists from around the world gathered in San Francisco for the American Geophysical Union meeting , the success stories are pouring in . On Monday , the Mars Curiosity mission team released a new study showing that the former lake bed in which the Rover landed could once have supported microbial life . The Cassini mission to Saturn released a spectacular video of mysterious hexagonal clouds whirling over the planet 's pole . But the question on everyone 's mind is : Will these missions be allowed to continue ? The answer may well be : No . Next year 's NASA budget is poised to force premature cancellation of either Curiosity or Cassini -- the agency 's flagship missions . Funding decisions get made behind closed doors , but projected figures reduce Cassini 's budget in 2014 by almost half , and half again in 2015 , making it impossible to fly . Even funding for analyzing data will be `` restructured , '' according to NASA . These cuts are not only devastating for scientists ; they are also potentially harmful for our economy , and our leadership in STEM ( Science , Technology , Engineering and Math ) . When most people think of spacecraft , they think of hunks of metal flying or driving around , alone in the far reaches of the solar system . Some are cute and personable , like the Opportunity Rover or Voyager ; some , like Cassini , are less well known . People might also recall the gorgeous photos spread across the front pages of the New York Times or on the cover of National Geographic . A few might even think of the famous scientists who have brought these pictures to life , like Carl Sagan , Steve Squyres , or Carolyn Porco . The robots ' stories and adventures captivate us . But what about the people who created and operate the robots ? Behind the scenes , largely invisible to the public , are many of America 's best scientists and engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory , NASA centers , and research facilities who work on these missions to make space exploration possible . The budget cuts will affect America 's most experienced and most promising engineers and researchers . They may have to join the legions of the unemployed . Do we really want to put someone like Bobak Ferdowksi , NASA 's famous `` Mohawk Guy , '' out of a job ? Some may think that space engineers can simply move to the private sector . After all , companies like Space X or Virgin Galactic are looking for talents . But private ventures involve different motives and skills . And private companies do not fund planetary science and experiments . Moreover , private and public research institutions from Cornell to Ohio State University rely partly on NASA grants to support their graduate students , post-docs , and other staff in STEM fields . In other words , NASA funding not only expands the frontiers of our knowledge , it also trains the next generation of STEM leaders in our country . The budget cuts would deprive our young scientists and engineers the resources to continue their studies and , in turn , contribute to America 's innovation . Seen in perspective , the looming budget adjustment along with all the cuts in recent years sentences America 's planetary exploration program to death by starvation . Cassini , for one , is already operating on a shoestring . And NASA has put plans for future missions to the outer solar system on ice , despite efforts by the planetary community to plan cost-effective and exciting opportunities . The continuous gutting of NASA and its planetary science programs should outrage all Americans . If we end the Cassini or the Curiosity mission , it would be a crisis not just for science but for America 's leadership in STEM . At a time when our math and science students are getting left behind , and the public is looking to our high tech and scientific sectors to power innovation and economic growth , we should invest in our sciences and continue to inspire the next generation . Let 's make sure our current best and brightest working on the cutting edge do n't get the pink slip . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Janet Vertesi .
NASA budget may force premature cancellation of either Curiosity or Cassini . Virgin Galactic : The cuts not only hurt scientists , but also our leadership in STEM . Vertesi : Do we really want to put someone like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory 's famous `` Mohawk Guy out of a job ? She says if we end the Cassini or the America mission , it would be a national crisis .