This is not a NASA Website. You might learn something. It's YOUR space agency. Get involved. Take it back. Make it work - for YOU.
Biden Space

VP Harris Kicks Off World Space Week And NASA Ignores Her (Update)

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
October 7, 2021
Filed under
VP Harris Kicks Off World Space Week And NASA Ignores Her (Update)

Keith’s 7 October update: It took TWO DAYS for NASA PAO and the NASA STEM Engagement Office to make mention of the event with VP Harris, one powered by global video giant YouTube. It is rather baffling that NASA would take so long to acknowledge an event which, in the end, turns a national spotlight on NASA and space exploration – during World Space Week (which is almost over now) If PAO AA Marc Etkind and STEM Office AA Mike Kincaid have a consistent policy for highlighting education and public outreach at NASA it is certainly not in evidence here. As for the White House liaison at NASA – no one seems to be listening to them. Just sayin’
Keith’s 6 October update: A day later and there is still zero mention by NASA regarding this high profile space-related event with VP Harris. Supposedly there will be something online at NASA tomorrow – except nothing is mentioned by NASA. Oh yes, a NASA astronaut in space is involved. But why mention that. Meanwhile the national news media noticed – even if NASA is AWOL.
Kamala Harris Will Host YouTube Special About Space Exploration: ‘We’re Going to Learn So Much’, People
‘Get Curious With Vice President Harris’ Space-Themed Kids Special Set For Launch, Deadline/Yahoo
YouTube announces new kids’ special starring Harris, The Hill
Keith’s 5 October note: This is clearly a space education effort – and it comes from the Vice President herself, you know, the person in the White House to whom the National Space Council and its Users Advisory Group answers. You’d think that the political appointees at NASA Headquarters on the 9th floor would be going out of their way to promote this. Guess again. There is no mention of this event at the NASA STEM Engagement Office website – or at NASA.gov. No press release or media advisory from NASA PAO either. No mention at @NASA or @NASASTEM. No mention at @VP or @WHOSTP either. This feature is supposed to launch “October 7 at 6am PT / 9am ET, on the NASA YouTube Channel” but there is no mention on the NASA TV schedule. Will it air on NASA TV or just on a website?
Vice President Kamala Harris Kicks Off World Space Week With New YouTube Original Special “Get Curious With Vice President Harris”, YouTube
“Kicking off World Space Week, YouTube Originals today announced “Get Curious with Vice President Harris,” a new special encouraging children to “get curious” about space. This once-in-a-lifetime event follows a group of lucky kids as they meet Vice President Kamala Harris, go on a scavenger hunt with clues delivered by NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough from the International Space Station, and get unprecedented exclusive access to the United States Naval Observatory.”

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

8 responses to “VP Harris Kicks Off World Space Week And NASA Ignores Her (Update)”

  1. ed2291 says:
    0
    0

    If either Biden or Harris – to whom the National Space Council and its Users Advisory Group answers – were serious about space they would have congratulated the Inspiration 4 crew as Mrs. Obama did. The fault of inadequate attention to space belongs to more than just NASA alone.

    • Alan Ladwig says:
      0
      0

      Sure, a call would have been nice, but that’s a weak complaint and hardly a measure of the administration’s interest in space. In case you haven’t noticed, the president is rightly focused on more pressing national priorities and fighting to save democracy.

  2. Todd Austin says:
    0
    0

    I see it’s put on by YouTube, a Google company. Is there any chance that there are proscriptions in place, either legal or customary, that would inhibit NASA from advertising this? If it’s just habit, and not law, then now would be a good time to revisit the policy.

  3. fcrary says:
    0
    0

    Honestly, I’m not sure if this is news. It’s been obvious for years (if not decades) that NASA’s media relations and public outreach efforts are uncoordinated and dysfunctional. This is one more example of that, to add to the list of hundreds of other examples. Trying to remind people of that is a fine thing to do, but it strikes me as a bit like Don Quixote.

    • ed2291 says:
      0
      0

      We love Keith Cowing partly because he is a little like Don Quixote. He loves space and never gives up!

  4. mfwright says:
    0
    0

    I think most likely why nothing mentioned on these websites is one, most people don’t know how to do websites. This isn’t like back in the days of Geocities and other sites while many were goofy but it allowed the user full control of the site. These days most including businesses use Facebook, Twitter, etc. as their internet presence which is why it was an economic and commerce disaster when FB went down yesterday. In general the number of people that can do websites has gone down (many of my friends had their own sites but they abandoned and now do all their stuff on FB).

    Government agencies have their own from internet but these days it has become much more restrictive on what can be posted and who is authorized. Obviously there are good reasons for tight control, back in the days there were some sloppy practices. However with tight controls reduces mobility and response time. It also may come down to the simple fact there is fewer people with those skills. What IT people are employed are probably jumping from one frying pan to another fixing problems. Those with management responsibilities probably too busy chasing down budgets and other bureaucracy demanded by congress.

  5. Nick K says:
    0
    0

    I do not think NASA deliberately avoided the VP and her event. I do not recall NASA ever being gung ho about Spaceweek. If there is an event someone is sponsoring and NASA is asked to support, NASA may or may not send a speaker or astronaut or someone to attend, but I do not recall NASA ever leading such efforts.