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.
ISS News
LATEST
Becoming A Spacefaring Species
Becoming A Spacefaring Species

Keith’s note: We threw away Mir to make room for ISS since “there could be only one”. Just remember: once we splash ISS its capability – and decades of blood, sweat & tears – will become a coral reef. If we’re not creative enough to build permanent things in space then we will never truly become a spacefaring species. Just sayin’

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • February 14, 2024
NASAWatch On TV
NASAWatch On TV

Keith’s note: On Wednesday evening I appeared on CGTN to talk about the launch of a cargo spacecraft to China’s Tiangong and the future of the Chinese space station program [audio]. A few minutes later I appeared on the Scripps TV network and all of its affiliates talking about Astrobotic’s peregrine and sending humans back to the Moon. [audio].

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • January 18, 2024
Reality Check For The Whole Commercial Space Ecosystem Thing
Reality Check For The Whole Commercial Space Ecosystem Thing

Keith’s note: According to this little gem that was tossed online after hours on a Friday NASA Adjusts Agreements to Benefit Commercial Station Development “We continue to see an immense amount of dedication from our partners,” said Angela Hart, manager of Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.“The agency is committed to continuing to work with industry with the goal having one or more stations in orbit to ensure competition, lower costs, and meet the demand of NASA and other customers.” Uh huh. Since when has NASA lowered the cost – of anything? This whole ISS vs Gateway/Artemis vs Orbital Reef vs Starlab vs Axiom vs Russia vs China vs Congress with regard to space stations is all going to result in an inelastic collision – soon. To some extent this announcement is like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The money is simply not there for everything, competing priorities are inherently non-synergistic, and in place of a coherent, national strategy – one that takes these things into account in a realistic way – we have a short-term, seat of the pants, ad hoc, fake it until you make it, free for all. Something has got to give since neither the money or a clear policy path are on the horizon. And the warning signs – if they are even apparent – will be ignored until it is too late. And expecting the National Space Council to do anything substantive is simply naive in the extreme. Oh then there’s the whole 2024 election thing and the fact that NASA has no idea when the moon walking resumes and … Just sayin’

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • January 6, 2024
B-52s Will Fly For A Century.  ISS – Not So Much
B-52s Will Fly For A Century. ISS – Not So Much

Keith’s note: NASA has asked companies to offer $1 billion ideas for how to dump the International Space Station into the Pacific. NASA seems to feel that it is not worth updating and they want to replace it with one or more commercial mini-space stations. But NASA may not have anywhere near the funds to do that for a while thus causing a gap in NASA’s human space flight access. Oh yes – and then there’s that Gateway mini-ISS that NASA wants to build out near the Moon for the constantly delayed and always over-budget Artemis Moon program. Congress is rather cool on dumping ISS – and much, much warmer on extending ISS. And if NASA gets cold feet on the future of humans in LEO – or the CLD money dries up – the various CLD commercial space station companies may have a hard time drumming up private sector funding – thus worsening the gap. We’ve already seen Northrop Grumman dropping their own independent CLD bid and merging with Voyager Space. But y’know: old things still work. And if you maintain them, they still will – and if you are smart, old things can get upgrades and keep working for less than replacing them. FWIW The USAF has flown B-52s since 1955. They still had 72 operational as of 2022. Upgrades were done in 2013-15. The last B-52s may well serve to 2050s i.e. 100 year old aircraft. Yet NASA struggles to extend the International Space Station to just one-third of that lifespan. Yes, this is an apples/oranges thing but we threw away Skylab – do you really want to splash the ISS NASA? Seriously.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • November 27, 2023
Annual NASA OIG Report: Great Science – Poor Project Management
Annual NASA OIG Report: Great Science – Poor Project Management

Keith’s note: The annual NASA OIG look at issues confronting NASA is out and nothing has changed. NASA still accomplishes astonishing things yet that is challenged by the fact that NASA still cannot figure out what things cost or deliver them on time. “… Despite these important achievements, substantial cost growth and lengthy schedule delays continue to impact not only human space flight programs, like the Space Launch System and Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, but also other major science and exploratory programs, projects, and missions. In addition, the International Space Station’s planned retirement at the end of the decade poses a challenge for the Agency as it seeks to maintain an active human presence in low Earth orbit. The Agency also faces long-standing challenges managing its information technology; overseeing contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements; ensuring it attracts and retains a highly technical and diverse workforce; and managing outdated infrastructure and facilities.” Full report: OIG 2023 Report on NASA’s Top Management and Performance Challenges

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • November 1, 2023
NASA Blesses Northrop Grumman / Voyager Space Holdings Merged Commercial Space Station Efforts
NASA Blesses Northrop Grumman / Voyager Space Holdings Merged Commercial Space Station Efforts

Keith’s note: as first reported the other day the commercial space station competition is now tightening. Blue Origin seems to be losing interest and focusing their big rocket, Sierra Space seems to wants to chart its own path, and Voyager/Northrop Grumman are merging their efforts (the only effort with flight-proven and operation hardware already doing the whole space station thing). According to NASA: “As part of NASA’s efforts to foster commercially owned and operated low Earth orbit destinations, Nanoracks, part of Voyager Space’s Exploration Segment, and Northrop Grumman are teaming up to support Nanoracks’ development of the Starlab commercial space station. Rather than developing its own destination as planned under a separate Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA, the agency and Northrop Grumman agreed to withdraw from its agreement so the company can join Voyager Space and Nanoracks in providing cargo logistics services and engineering services to support the Starlab station.” According to Voyager Space Holdings: “Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft will be utilized to deliver pressurized cargo to Starlab over an initial five-year period to support future human spaceflight missions. The Cygnus spacecraft has completed 19 missions, delivering over 138,000 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). Cygnus has already demonstrated several advanced capabilities, including the ability to function as a laboratory while docked to ISS, deploy satellites, and reboost the station’s orbit.”

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • October 4, 2023
NASA-funded Commercial Space Station Competition Shrinks – And Heats Up
NASA-funded Commercial Space Station Competition Shrinks – And Heats Up

Keith’s note: First we hear that Blue Origin and Sierra Space partnership for a commercial space station (Orbital Reef) is falling apart. Now we hear that Northrop Grumman is going to end its independent effort and is going to join with the Voyager Space/Nanoracks team. What was once 4 different space station ideas with NASA funding is now suddenly two i.e. Axiom Space and Voyager Space/Nanoracks/Northrop Grumman. The question is whether this helps NASA as budgets tighten or frees up more funds to make things happen faster. Or both. Or neither. Stay tuned. Keith’s 11 October update: both @BlueOrigin and @Sierra Space tweeted that they are still working together, But it took more than a week for them to get around to doing so. Hmmm ….

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • October 2, 2023
SpaceRef on BBC World Service: ISS Astronauts And Bulldogs On Mars
SpaceRef on BBC World Service: ISS Astronauts And Bulldogs On Mars

Keith’s note: I was just on the BBC World Service talking about Frank Rubio’s new record on the ISS – and about the Moxie unit making oxygen on Mars. NASA’s press release about MOXIE
NASA says in its release that “MOXIE has generated a total of 122 grams of oxygen – about what a small dog breathes in 10 hours”. OK, so I am (was) an actual NASA space biologist once upon a time. As such I had a few opinions on this. Yes, I mentioned English bulldogs and suggested that they’d last a bit beyond 10 hours. I was on the BBC, so … [Audio]

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • September 12, 2023
Talking About UAE’s Sultan Alneyadi On Israeli TV
Talking About UAE’s Sultan Alneyadi On Israeli TV

Keith’s note: I was on I24 TV in Israel today talking about the return of UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi from the ISS. I also tried my usual trick of getting the TV network producer to offer some travel funds for me and the presenter to take a trip in to space. Again, No joy. But I tried. [Audio]

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • September 3, 2023
Space Stations And Fireflies
Space Stations And Fireflies


Keith’s note: I caught a space station flyover last night: “Time: Mon Jul 10 10:33 PM EDT , Visible: 7 min, Max Height: 82°, Appears: 10° above SW, Disappears: 10° above NE” I got a good 5 minutes of viewing – a perfect flyover – even with my hand over my bad eye (with cataracts). It is arguably the brightest thing in the night sky. And people live inside it. Here in Reston, Virginia – a “Tree City” we have lots of – trees. So usually I have to wait 1-2 minutes for the ISS to clear the trees. I usually catch it flickering behind a tree until it is higher up and in the clear. Enter the fireflies. They drove me nuts and faked me out several times. There is a piece of my mind in the ISS’ construction (it was my job at NASA at one time), there are things on board that I got named in honor of several NASA mentors, and then there is that little plastic nugget with 4 tiny Apollo 11 Moon rocks inside that Scott Parazynski and I schlepped all over Nepal (he took it up to the top of Everest) which is now inside the ISS observation cupola where everyone on board goes to look down at Earth. And all of that flew over MY HOUSE tonight. Too cool. Oh and it will happen again tonight. BTW That’s Jessica Watkins getting her daily dose of the #OverviewEffect

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • July 11, 2023
There Were Lot Of People In Space On Tuesday
There Were Lot Of People In Space On Tuesday

Keith’s note: On Tuesday I was on Bloomberg radio (audio) talking about China’s space program and global space efforts. With the arrival of Shenzhou-16 there are 6 people on Tiangong. Later in the day I was on CGTN (audio) talking about China’s ambitions including human missions to the Moon. With the AX-2 crew on ISS I counted 10 faces. Now they are headed back to Earth. So I guess that means we had 16 17 humans in orbit for a while today – and at time of this posting – they were in 3 different spacecraft. Its getting busy up there.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • May 30, 2023
AX-2 Launch Update
AX-2 Launch Update

Keith’s note: A SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying the Dragon “Freedom” was launched on time today at 5:37 pm EDT from Kennedy Space Center with a crew of four on board which includes two Saudis. More. Earlier today I spoke with Alhurra TV about the upcoming AX-2 mission to the ISS later this afternoon. Audio.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • May 21, 2023
Sending People Into Space
Sending People Into Space

Keith’s note: I was on i24 TV in Israel today to talk about the upcoming Axiom-2 (AX2) mission to the ISS. In a nutshell I think my main point is that what was once monolithic i.e. a large rich country sent its generic employee astronauts into space to do mission X to now where many people go up via many different arrangements to do many different things. And who they are as a person becomes more important – and more interesting – than the fact that they are an “astronaut” in a rocketship. And that is a good thing. Audio. Video clip below.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • May 7, 2023
NASAWatch Talking Head Time on Alhurra TV
NASAWatch Talking Head Time on Alhurra TV

Keith’s note: I just did an interview on Alhurra TV and talked about space radiation research on astronauts and its applicability to medical treatments on Earth. I actually said “spinoff” several times. If you listen to the audio you will hear that I had a two-way English/Arabic interpreter. I worked as a professional Sign language interpreter for a number of years – so I know how to de-jargonize things and parse my comments to facilitate translation. Add in the fact that the program is aimed at a general global audience with no background in NASAese and there you are. That said – I had no talking points in advance from NASA or anyone else – and only a general idea of what might be asked. Having had a real job once upon a time working in NASA space life sciences certainly helped. Alas, these days, NASA Public Affairs takes little interest in providing media who get in front of large global audiences (such as Alhurra, BBC etc.) with relevant talking points to help make the discussion more relevant. And when a non-NASA talking head gets something wrong then PAO gets upset and has meetings and complains within itself about the quality of space news coverage. Oh yes: an arabic-speaking astronaut is living on ISS and another is heading up soon. I mentioned them too. A little soft power projection – not that NASA OIIR cares. At this point if they are reading this they are rolling their eyes. Just sayin. Here’s the audio.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • April 7, 2023
NASA Is Ignoring A White House Document On Space Policy
NASA Is Ignoring A White House Document On Space Policy

Keith’s note: On 31 March 2023 The White House issued a policy document Maintaining U.S. Preeminence in Low Earth Orbit which seeks to guide ongoing and future ISS research as well as possible commercial platforms that NASA or the private sector may soon sponsor. It has been 4 days. No mention is made at NASA.gov, NASA space station page, ISS National Lab page, @Space_Station, or @ISS_Reseach. Outgoing HEOMD AA @KathyLueders did mention this in a tweet on Friday (after business hours – and after a @NASAWatch tweet prompt. You have to wonder if NASA is really in synch with what the White House is directing the agency to do if they cannot even bother to mention a policy document – one that will serve to guide billions in future investments in space. Just sayin’.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • April 3, 2023
White House Policy Released: Maintaining U.S. Preeminence in Low Earth Orbit
White House Policy Released: Maintaining U.S. Preeminence in Low Earth Orbit

Keith’s note: According to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s new report on Low Earth Orbit research: “The United States holds the preeminent global position in space thanks to steadfast investments in space research and technology development, and strategic partnerships and collaborations. As we work to further explore the Moon and Mars, the use of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) grows, and the International Space Station begins its phased retirement, it is crucial that we maintain preeminence in space research. That’s why today the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is releasing the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision for U.S. leadership in the future research and development (R&D) in LEO.” Summary and full report

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 31, 2023
NASAWatch on i24: Crew-6 And Space Exploration
NASAWatch on i24: Crew-6 And Space Exploration

Keith’s note: A few minutes ago I spoke with i24 TV news in Israel about the launch of Crew-6 and the trip by Sultan Al Neyadi who will be the first UAE citizen to live and work on the International Space Station. The international aspects of ISS operations as well as space exploration in general were the main themes of the interview. Audio. Video Link below.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 2, 2023
Do Space Cooperation And Crimes Against Humanity Make A Good Mix?
Do Space Cooperation And Crimes Against Humanity Make A Good Mix?

Keith’s note: Whenever I am asked about the Russian issue on the ISS on TV I usually reply that while things are bad back on Earth, somehow we always managed to cooperate in space with the same people we cannot get along with on Earth – and that maybe how we live in space can provide us a lesson with how we should live on our home planet’s surface. Indeed I think the idea of ISS as a Nobel Peace Prize winner is a good one. In the past several years that in-space cooperation has been tested with regard to Russia. We’ve seen that relationship challenged by Nauka’s malfunction, leaky Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, accusations of American astronaut tampering, and repugnant rants from the (former) head of Russia’s space program (who is now an active participant in the invasion of Ukraine). Yet the ISS continues to operate surprisingly smoothly. Now the U.S. has openly declared that “The United States has formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity.” Is Bill Nelson going to address this? Probably not. Oddly Bill Nelson has been quite vocal for months about China (not a NASA partner in space). Yet when it comes to a formal U.S. accusation of crimes against humanity in Ukraine by Russia (an actual NASA partner in space) Nelson is surprisingly quiet. Why is that?

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • February 19, 2023
Improving On ISS Vs Just Copying It
Improving On ISS Vs Just Copying It

Keith’s note: According to a tweet by @jeff_foust “Axiom Space’s Mary Lynne Dittmar on commercial LEO destinations panel at the FAA conference: worried that if NASA continues with four competitors for very much longer, will dilute a nascent sector and extend timelines for building comm’l stations admi competition with China.” I replied: “On the other hand @DittmarML having multiple competitors in the real world – as well as in the space bubble – is how you drive up innovation and drive down cost and ensure redundancy and flexibility. Picking winners too early stifles that. Just sayin'” and added: “There’s a bit of the “Highlander Syndrome” at work when it comes to people talking about commercial follow-ons to #ISS in meetings i.e. “there can be only one”. If that is what happens then the entire space community has failed – and this has zero to do with China. Just sayin'”

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • February 9, 2023