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You Can't Send NASA Telegrams Any More

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
June 5, 2016
Filed under ,
You Can't Send NASA Telegrams Any More

Federal Acquisition Regulation; Removal of Regulations Relating to Telegraphic Communication, NASA et al
“DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the FAR to delete the use of the terms “telegram”, “telegraph”, “telegraphic”, and related terminology. The word “telegram” emerged shortly after the invention of the electrical telegraph in the 1840s. This terminology and way of communicating was incorporated into the first issue of the FAR, effective April 1, 1984. The emergence of electronic means of communication, starting with the facsimile machine, and then followed by email and mobile-phone text messages in the 1990s, resulted in the sparing use of telegraph services and use of telegrams. On this basis, the Councils are proposing to delete telegraphic services from the FAR and replace these terms with an option for electronic communications. This case is consistent with the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Memorandum dated December 4, 2014 on transforming the marketplace, which describes ongoing actions to support the needs of a 21st century Government.”
Keith’s note: Of course, there is no email address listed within this whereby you can contact the government employees nor is any fax number included. Also, it looks like it took DoD, GSA, and NASA 2 years to implement this simple editorial change. Inevitably someone, somewhere within NASA will eventually think that this means that telegrams no longer need to be archived and you’ll see people throwing them out or putting them in boxes without labels. Then there will come a time when the information contained in those telegrams will needed and … we’ve seen this movie before. Moon walk tapes anyone? Larger image (NASA actually used telegrams for important stuff once upon a time).

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.

7 responses to “You Can't Send NASA Telegrams Any More”

  1. Michael Spencer says:
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    Ha! I bet Dr. Ride saved that particular telegram!

    Some years ago the FCC attempted to remove the morse code requirements for an amateur Radio license above 30 Mhz. Makes sense, since Morse isn’t used by the Navy or Coast Guard anymore.

    The backlash was swift, both by those arguing it’s a mode that gets through when others don’t, and by those like yours truly who enjoy the dits and dahs.

    FCC never relented.

    But truthfully lots of things are simply antiquated: disk drives, replaceable cell phone batteries, tuning up the Chevy on Saturday in the driveway, and– telegrams.

    • mfwright says:
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      but getting a telegram saying you have been selected as an astronaut is really cool. Reminds me a story on slashdot (I think) where someone had a friend who got their PhD but couldn’t make it to the celebration party. Sent a telegram (shortly before WU stopped sending telegrams), WU person knocked on the door while the party was in progress, “telegram!” The new doctor thought that was so cool. Saved and framed it for her office.

  2. Allen Thomson says:
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    On the archiving part, perhaps the National Archives and Records Administration could weigh in with a reminder concerning record-keeping responsibilities.

    https://www.archives.gov/re

  3. Kenny says:
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    Does that mean we won’t be able to use the Telegram IM client to send messages to NASA? (if we knew who to send to…) 😉

  4. Lawrence Wild says:
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    Even if you wanted to send them one, where would you send it from?
    http://www.nbcnews.com/id/1

  5. Gonzo_Skeptic says:
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    What would happen if you sent a Candygram(tm) instead??