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A Confluence Of Climate Change And Astrobiology:  The Anthropocene
A Confluence Of Climate Change And Astrobiology: The Anthropocene

Keith’s note: Astrobiologists are often focused on how a planet’s life history shapes the life on it and how that life can, in turn, alter a planet’s life history. Life forms as small as cyanobacteria can totally alter the atmosphere. So can humans. As we deal with changes we have brought to our ecosphere these lessons have applicability. They also may suggest ways to mitigate the bad effects of human activity. Here is one example. We all got sick and stopped polluting as much – and the Earth “noticed”. Moreover, as we look to expand humanity to other worlds or giant space colonies some people talk about altering sterile locations to become habitable via terraforming. Yet again, the impact of the anthropocene on Earth has relevance. More information: Short Term Impact of Human Activity During the Anthropocene: The Corona Pandemic Reduced The Melting Of Himalayan Glaciers

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  • NASA Watch
  • December 21, 2023
TEMPO Launched
TEMPO Launched

Keith’s note: According to NASA PAO: “A NASA instrument to provide unprecedented resolution of monitoring major air pollutants – down to four square miles – lifted off on its way to geostationary orbit at 12:30 a.m. EDT Friday. The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument will improve life on Earth by revolutionizing the way scientists observe air quality from space.” More. ICYMI I just did an interview with BBC World Service on the TEMPO launch and the benefits it will have to actual individuals back on Earth. Audio

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  • NASA Watch
  • April 7, 2023
Will Someone Please Tell NASA About The IPCC Report
Will Someone Please Tell NASA About The IPCC Report

Keith’s note: The latest report from the IPCC – AR6 Synthesis Report – has been out for more than a day. The Biden Administration has been making full throated endorsements about the need to combat Climate Change as a whole of government effort. NASA has a seat at the table at the White House National Climate Task Force. Last year NASA made a big deal about VP Harris and NASA’s climate efforts. SO you’d expect that there would be some mention of this report given that the rest of the world is responding. Yet no mention is at NASA.gov at @NASA or @NASA Earth. Again, NASA PAO is just totally out of synch with issues of vital importance to its overtly stated mission. Wake up PAO.

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  • NASA Watch
  • March 21, 2023
CTV: No That Asteroid Will Not Kills Us All Tonight
CTV: No That Asteroid Will Not Kills Us All Tonight

Keith’s note: I was on CTV tonight to talk about the flyby of asteroid 2023 BU. Since everyone tries to out do everyone else with comparing the size od these things to something that is well known I did some quick math and came up with a rough quesstimate of ~250,000 Tim Hortons Double Doubles. Audio Video Below

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  • NASA Watch
  • January 26, 2023
Report: The Ultimate Space Technology Spinoff?
Report: The Ultimate Space Technology Spinoff?

Keith’s note: According to INMARSAT: “A new report from Inmarsat and Globant finds existing satellite technologies could save up to 5.5 billion tonnes of CO2 a year. Satellite technologies are already reducing carbon emissions by 1.5 billion tonnes (or 1.5 gigatons) every year, according to independent research report Can Space Help Save The Planet?, commissioned by Inmarsat from leading consultants at Globant’s Sustainable Business Studio.” More: Space Technologies Offer Opportunity To Achieve One-sixth Of Emissions Cuts Needed To Reach Net Zero By 2050

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  • NASA Watch
  • October 27, 2022
SpaceRef/NASAWatch Interview on Asteroid 7482 Flyby

Keith’s note: Asteroid 7482 (1994 PC1), 1 kilometer in diameter will fly by Earth today 4.51 p.m. ET. It is moving at 47,344 miles per hour and will get no closer than 1.2 million miles. I was on CNN this morning to talk about this fly by and NASA’s DART mission to impact another asteroid, (65803) Didymos this Fall. Keith Cowing · SpaceRef on CNN: Asteroid Flyby

  • NASA Watch
  • January 18, 2022
That Immense Event On Earth That @NASA Missed

An immense volcanic eruption captivated the world this weekend via stunning imagery from satellites in space that flooded the Internet. As such, you'd think that @NASA would say something – like @NOAA did to show the value of space-based observation. Guess again. ICYMI @pinballme pic.twitter.com/XQ2ANxHy5p — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) January 17, 2022

  • NASA Watch
  • January 17, 2022
Astronauts Now Do NASA PAO's Job When It Comes To Hurricane Threats (Update)

#HurricaneIda from @Space_Station just before noon CDT today. If you are/have been in its path, I’m thinking of you and hoping you stay safe. pic.twitter.com/C2fEJ3AxOh — Megan McArthur (@Astro_Megan) August 28, 2021 Keith’s 29 Aug 4:27 pm EDT Update: NASA PAO finally got around to doing some updates – after the hurricane made landfall. Keith’s 28 Aug 5:00 pm EDT note: Hurricane Ida is heading for the gulf coast and […]

  • NASA Watch
  • August 29, 2021
Rep. Gohmert Wants To Alter Earth and Moon Orbits To Fight Climate Change

ORBITS: Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) asks whether the Forest Service or the BLM can alter the orbit of the moon or the Earth in order to fight climate change during a House Natural Resources hearing pic.twitter.com/yYiOyi2cMZ — Forbes (@Forbes) June 8, 2021 Keith’s note: Resident science genius Rep. Gohmert (R-TX) asked someone from the Forest Service if they can alter the orbit of Earth and/or the Moon to deal with […]

  • NASA Watch
  • June 9, 2021
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to Address Workforce
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to Address Workforce

Media Invited to Administrator’s State of NASA Remarks on Climate, Artemis “In his first address to the workforce, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will discuss the agency’s plans for future climate science missions, the agency’s plans for a robotic and human return to the Moon through the Artemis program, and more during a State of NASA event at 3 p.m. EDT Wednesday, June 2. The event will air live on NASA […]

  • NASA Watch
  • May 27, 2021
That NASA/FEMA/NOAA Climate Thing You Are Not Hearing About (Update)
That NASA/FEMA/NOAA Climate Thing You Are Not Hearing About (Update)

Keith’s 4:12 pm EDT update: I just got the press release by email. It was sent out at 3:47 pm EDT. The Washington Post had an article posted at 12:21 pm EDT and then followed that with a tweet about this news while NASA said nothing whatsoever in advance. One would assume that this press release was in the can before the event happened. So why sit on it for […]

  • NASA Watch
  • May 24, 2021
That NASA Climate Change Hearing That NASA Ignored
That NASA Climate Change Hearing That NASA Ignored

Keith’s note: The House Science Committee held a hearing today “NASA’s Earth Science and Climate Change Activities: Current Roles and Future Opportunities“. Given the importance placed by the Biden Administration on Climate Change – with NASA being a member of the Cabinet-level Climate Task Force – you’d think that NASA would be giving a hearing on climate change – with the head of its Earth Science Division and its Task […]

  • NASA Watch
  • May 18, 2021
White House Adds NASA To Their Climate Task Force
White House Adds NASA To Their Climate Task Force

NASA Joins White House National Climate Task Force, NASA “As a leading agency observing and understanding environmental changes to Earth, NASA has joined the National Climate Task Force. President Joe Biden issued an executive order Jan. 27, which initially outlined details of the task force.” NASA Is A Minor Part Of The Biden Climate Change Action Plan (Update), earlier post “The Earth Science budget at NASA for FY 2021 is […]

  • NASA Watch
  • March 18, 2021
Climate Science At NASA: Building Back Better After The Trump Era
Climate Science At NASA: Building Back Better After The Trump Era

NASA’s Climate Communications Might Not Recover From the Damage of Trump’s Systemic Suppression, Time “Soon after, I was told by higher-ups including JPL’s director of the Office of Communication, also a career employee rather than a political appointee, to stop reporting on and sharing climate-related content from other government agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service and the Department of Energy–groups I’d been collaborating […]

  • NASA Watch
  • February 10, 2021
World Class Advisor Named For NASA's Minor Role In Climate Change Efforts
World Class Advisor Named For NASA's Minor Role In Climate Change Efforts

NASA Announces New Role of Senior Climate Advisor, NASA “In an effort to ensure effective fulfillment of the Biden Administration’s climate science objectives for NASA, the agency has established a new position of senior climate advisor and selected Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Science in New York, to serve in the role in an acting capacity until a permanent appointment is made. “This position will provide […]

  • NASA Watch
  • February 3, 2021
NASA Is A Minor Part Of The Biden Climate Change Action Plan (Update)
NASA Is A Minor Part Of The Biden Climate Change Action Plan (Update)

Keith’s 1 February note: The Biden White House issued an Executive order on 27 January 2021 “Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad” which outlines its immediate steps to deal with the threat of climate change on society and our economy in a “whole of government” fashion. As you all know, The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, lists a variety of things that NASA […]

  • NASA Watch
  • February 2, 2021
Trump Fires Head Of U.S. Global Change Research Program
Trump Fires Head Of U.S. Global Change Research Program

Trump administration removes head of Federal climate program that oversees key reports, Washington Post “[Michael Kuperberg’s removal] seems quite consistent with decisions at NOAA and elsewhere,” said Kathy Jacobs, director of the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions at the University of Arizona, who ran the third National Climate Assessment. “[It’s] a last-minute attempt to remove people who may not be perceived as supporting the president’s agenda.” Kuperberg’s removal […]

  • NASA Watch
  • November 9, 2020
NASA Seeks Input On The Fifth National Climate Assessment
NASA Seeks Input On The Fifth National Climate Assessment

NASA: Request for Public Nominations for Authors and Scientific/ Technical Inputs and Notice of Planned Public Engagement Opportunities for the Fifth National Climate Assessment, NASA “NASA, on behalf of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), is soliciting nominations for authors and scientific/ technical inputs for the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5). Refer to the NCA5 Draft Prospectus (presented in a previous Federal Register Notice and accessible via www.globalchange.gov/notices) for […]

  • NASA Watch
  • October 15, 2020
The Politicization Of Climate Science At NOAA Is Underway
The Politicization Of Climate Science At NOAA Is Underway

Trump White House recruited climate science critics to work at NOAA, Science “At least three prominent researchers who question the severity of climate change rebuffed the opportunity to take a senior position at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The White House has been quietly working in recent weeks to reshape the leadership of NOAA with a goal of criticizing climate science, according to people who were contacted […]

  • NASA Watch
  • September 29, 2020