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NASA GSFC ETD Is [insert buzzword] Itself
NASA GSFC ETD Is [insert buzzword] Itself

Keith’s note: Yesterday the staff at NASA GSFC ETD (Engineering and Technology Directorate) got an email titled “Realignments that will Transition ETD to the Future”. There’s lots of NASA doublespeak, agency boilerplate language to make the White House happy, and other needless buzzwords. As is usually the case, this is a reorganization that seems to be more about giving the impression of a reorganization than actually changing anything. If you look at the before- and after- org charts (wherein they moved the little white colored words inside of the blue boxes) there are more blue boxes now – so that means more complex interactions (instead of fewer?). Wait minute: lots of people are being laid off at GSFC – so shouldn’t there be fewer organizations, managers, (blue boxes with words) etc.? Otherwise, it’s not like anything has really changed – other than mail codes. And of course, the old NASA phrase “it was about time for a new phone book” applies. Oh yes: there is a special bonus fun time activity called “ETD On the Road”. See below.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 10, 2025
Notes From Today’s Town Hall At NASA LaRC
Notes From Today’s Town Hall At NASA LaRC

Keith’s note: according to a LaRC participant: “The overall sentiment was one of transparency, sharing information as it comes, and empathy. The Center Director has been proactive communicating when information is available. And has shared multiple resources for the LaRC employees. While I’m only one of a few thousand, I personally feel the Center Director cares deeply about the group and is doing her best to try and help LaRC as we try to survive this absolute shit show.” Details below.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 10, 2025
Who Speaks For Science?
Who Speaks For Science?

Keith’s note: this web reel was just posted by CNN from the end of my interview this morning. OK, I have just about run out of ways / platforms to wave my arms and talk about what NASA needs in order to explore the universe. Your turn. “NASA needs a permanent administrator who understands rocket science and knows how all this stuff works and is committed to lead the agency through these troubles to, you know, better times. That isn’t happening. And it’s very frustrating to the 17-18,000 civil servants and several hundred thousand contractors and the people of America. Please Mr. President send us a real NASA Administrator so we can get on with the whole explore the universe thing.”

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 10, 2025
NASAWatch On Bloomberg: Budgets, Layoffs, and Sean Duffy
NASAWatch On Bloomberg: Budgets, Layoffs, and Sean Duffy

Keith’s note: I was just on Bloomberg TV/radio/Web. [audio] I was asked if there was an issue with New Interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy having more than one job. I replied that this usually means that you delegate more to your staff. I noted that while Department of Transportation involves a lot of known, commonplace things but that NASA is really all about the whole rocket science thing and that Duffy will really need to lean heavily upon NASA staff. I also noted that the agency is still being run by NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes who is a former Trump campaign guy and a pal of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles – and that having a direct hotline into the White House when you need something is certainly not a bad thing to have. On the other hand Duffy is a staunch Trump loyalist so he’ll be implementing the Presidential Budget Request for NASA for FY 2026 including layoffs and cancellations as if it is a formal plan until directed otherwise by Congressional action on a budget that the President signs off on. Video below – my interview starts at 44:20

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 10, 2025
Janet Petro Heads Back To KSC
Janet Petro Heads Back To KSC

Keith’s note: this is from NASA PAO “I am honored to have served the President as the acting NASA Administrator for the past 6 months. His decision to appoint Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as acting Administrator reflects the high priority he places on our agency at this pivotal time. I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Secretary Duffy—including during Crew-9’s return in the Space Operations Center at NASA Headquarters—and I’m confident in his leadership as we carry forward the President’s ambitious agenda. I look forward to supporting a smooth transition and returning home to Kennedy Space Center as Center Director. At home in Florida, I’ll continue to work hand-in-hand with Secretary Duffy to propel the President’s ambitious goals.” – Janet Petro.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 10, 2025
NASA Appropriations Mark-up  Hearing
NASA Appropriations Mark-up Hearing

Keith’s note: NASA-related things from today’s Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science subcommittee mark-up:

  • Sen. Moran R-KS likes what has been done to NASA’s budget. “Allocation the committee was given shows real increase in spending power of 279M – an increase 0.37% above FY 2025 level. This bill is close to being a normal bill.”
  • Sen. Moran R-KS“Science funding makes minimal cut $60M to NSF 0.67% decrease. The NASA budget mark ($$ not mentioned) reflects an ambitious approach to space exploration and NASA’s flagship program Artemis – rejects premature cancellation of SLS and Orion before commercial replacements are available. Accelerates plans to place Americans on the Lunar surface before the Chinese and then sends astronauts to Mars. Supports Earth science and safeguard Earth from natural disasters.”
  • Sen. Van Hollen D-MD said “for NASA we provided $24.9B slightly above FY 2025. CJS Bill will have NASA at $24.9B and that the agency should focus on solar system exploration, climate change, sustainable aeronautics, and rejected rejected cuts that would have cut 47% of the science budget and led to cancellation of 55 missions. Provides $7.3 billion to NASA Science.”
  • Sen. Durbin D-IL “Houston has a problem – A Space Shuttle has been exhibited at Smithsonian in Chantilly, VA for 12 years. It has had 25 million visitors. One of the states that lost the competition has a new idea: let’s do it over again and make sure Texas wins. They added $85 million to move the shuttle to Texas. That is not what is necessary or what it would cost. NASA and Smithsonian said the cost would be $305 million. Where will Houston get the money to house the shuttle – $178 million would have to be added onto the cost. This will be the first time in history of the Smithsonian that someone has forcibly taken possession of an exhibit. Let’s be honest about this – if you are going use reconciliation funds to move this – its a heist by Texas because they lost the competition 12 years go.”
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  • NASA Watch
  • July 10, 2025
Reality Show Star Sean Duffy To Head NASA On “Interim” Basis
Reality Show Star Sean Duffy To Head NASA On “Interim” Basis

Keith’s note: According to a social media post from @realDonaldTrump “I am pleased to announce that I am directing our GREAT Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, to be Interim Administrator of NASA. Sean is doing a TREMENDOUS job in handling our Country’s Transportation Affairs, including creating a state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control systems, while at the same time rebuilding our roads and bridges, making them efficient, and beautiful, again. He will be a fantastic leader of the ever more important Space Agency, even if only for a short period of time. Congratulations, and thank you, Sean!”

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 9, 2025
Things Are Suddenly Looking Up For NASA Science
Things Are Suddenly Looking Up For NASA Science

Keith’s note: I will be on “CNN This Morning” at 6:35 am EDT on Thursday to talk about NASA layoffs and whether America is going to cede its space leadership to China. At 9:30 am EDT there will be a full Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Markup which has jurisdiction over NASA, NSF, NOAA, NIST, etc. . According to Politico Pro “when asked Wednesday if a scheduled Senate markup of the White House’s NASA bill would restore science spending, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) replied, “The answer is yes.”

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 9, 2025
Update On NASA’s Shrinking Civil Servant Workforce
Update On NASA’s Shrinking Civil Servant Workforce

Keith’s note: As of today the current number of NASA civil servants who are departing is around 2,900 across the agency – of that, people taking DRP 1 and 2 = approximately 2,000. This article from Politico has some info on the numbers from various NASA field centers. Of course how contractor employees are being affected is still a mystery and will ultimately be driven by sheer budget numbers.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 9, 2025
What About The Rest of Us Planetary Society?
What About The Rest of Us Planetary Society?

Keith’s note: Kudos to @exploreplanetsPlanetary Society – on what they do WRT FY 2026 budget cuts. But they totally ignore how the rest of us in the space community are impacted – and how we’re responding. They made no mention of:

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 8, 2025
NASA Is Rethinking Who Will Run JPL
NASA Is Rethinking Who Will Run JPL

Keith’s note: this RFI was posted on 3 July 2025: Follow-on for the Operation and Maintenance of the NASA Federally Funded Research and Development Center at Jet Propulsion Laboratory: “The NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight (NOJMO) is hereby requesting information from potential sources to operate and manage NASA’s Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for the purpose of effectively meeting special research and development needs.”“A NOJMO FFRDC Industry Engagement Day will be held on Tuesday, July 29th in the Glennan Assembly Room located inside NASA HQ at 300 E St. SW in Washington, D.C. This event is intended to inform potential sources about the Government’s FFRDC requirements and to promote an exchange of information between industry and the Government.” More information below.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 7, 2025
Second Budget Cut Rally At NASA Glenn
Second Budget Cut Rally At NASA Glenn

Keith’s note: according to a press release (more below): “Stand Up for Science, Cleveland Organizes Rally for NASA Glenn on Anniversary of Moon Landing”:

  • Who: Stand Up for Science Cleveland
  • What: Rally to Protest Budget Cuts at NASA Glenn
  • Where: Willard Park in downtown Cleveland
  • When: July 20, 2025, 2-4 PM
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  • NASA Watch
  • July 7, 2025
All Living Former NASA Science AAs Protest FY 2026 Budget Cuts
All Living Former NASA Science AAs Protest FY 2026 Budget Cuts

Keith’s note: the following letter was sent to congressional leaders and signed by every living former NASA Science Associate Administrator: “We are writing in opposition to the Administration’s FY 2026 NASA budget request, which proposes a 47% reduction to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. We request that the Congress preserve U.S. leadership in space science by maintaining funding for the NASA Science Mission Directorate at the FY 2025 enacted level.” More below.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 7, 2025
America’s Science Legacy Is Under Threat
America’s Science Legacy Is Under Threat

Keith’s note: there is an interesting article online at the Washington Post: These scientific advances were ‘Made in the U.S.A.’ Will they continue?: “All this knowledge can be labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” All this is our legacy, enabled by federal funding. In just a few months, the Trump administration has undermined U.S. dominance in science, built up over many decades. The federal funding that made America the world’s science leader is threatened with crippling reductions, not just for astronomy and space science but also for fundamental research in energy, chemistry, computer science and preventive medicine.”

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 7, 2025
Congressional Event: A Science Fair of Canceled Grants
Congressional Event: A Science Fair of Canceled Grants

Media advisory: On Tuesday, July 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer (Rayburn Foyer) the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology – Democrats will host an event titled, The Things We’ll Never Know: A Science Fair of Canceled Grants. Over twenty scientists from research institutions across the nation whose grants have been canceled by the Trump administration will be in attendance to present posters to share their story and discuss their now-canceled research grants. This event is open to the public and to the press. Please RSVP to attend (details below).

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 6, 2025
NASA’s Impending Data Diaspora
NASA’s Impending Data Diaspora

Keith’s note: with regard to commercial solutions to missions being canceled, data archiving etc. – Nice idea. But actually this is a disaster in the making. With the rush to spontaneously cancel a wide swath of missions, there is no transition plan for data recovery or archiving in a structured fashion in place at NASA or by the Administration. It is all chaos. Data will be lost, mangled, parsed, and scattered. So unless dedicated people go out and buy a bunch of 10 TB drives and skirt government regulations and save it on their own, this will become a data diaspora. And thus the loss of these missions will be compounded by this scattered data. This has happened before and it is happening again. I have seen this happen at NASA with my own eyes. Not everything will end up nice and safe in GitHub. Embrace THIS Challenge.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 4, 2025