Keith’s note: A few weeks ago the existence of a “Project Athena” document prepared by NASA Administrator nominee Jared Isaacman and a few close advisors emerged. It had been written during his first nomination period as a shopping list, statement of purpose, first stab at a plan that he was working on for NASA. Then his nomination was pulled. Then it was reinstated. Now it will most likely stick. In the months between this report’s writing and today, much has happened that will nullify, modify, and/or accentuate most aspects of what was written. After its existence became known Isaacman wrote a summary of this summary to clarify a few things. But the actual document remained elusive until it started popping up on various social media accounts on Friday. I have excerpted two main features – the “Workforce Speech – Day 1 Speech”, and “Executive Summary”. You can download the PDF version of the full 62 page document that is circulating here on Google Drive or look at various Twitter and social media accounts for screen grabs and other links. BTW the cover says “Confidential/ Proprietary Information” – well that is moot now – but it was leaked from within a very very very small group of people at NASA who had copies. People leak things for their own purposes. This is a work in progress, subject to wholesale revision and even deletion, so caveat emptor, your mileage may vary, and ad astra y’all. Excerpts below.

Keith’s note: NASA likes to talk about all the wonderful ways that they do things that affect everyone and improve their lives. But how they do this is inconsistent with regard to large portions of our country and large sectors of society. And it is often out of date and regularly misses the point when it comes to what real people are thinking about in terms of their life’s priorities. This popped up in Congress today while Jared Isaacman was testifying. More below.

Keith’s note: Testimony from Jared Isaacman at his confirmation hearing on 3 December 2025: “Thank you Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and distinguished members of the committee. I am honored and grateful to be here before you again as President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.” More below.

Keith’s note: NASA Public Affairs has issued a bunch of pre-re-nomination reviews regarding Jared Isaacman to be come NASA administrator. Read the glowing words of support below.

Keith’s note: on Wednesday 3 Dec the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a nomination hearing for Jared Isaacman (NASA) and Steven Haines (Commerce) at 10:00 am EST. It will be live streamed on the committee website and on YouTube. Meanwhile, NASA TV does not seem to have it listed. According to Marcia Smith “Sen. Cruz has already announced the Commerce committee will vote on Isaacman’s nomination next Monday, Dec. 8, at 5:30 pm ET, along with seven others. … Senate vote can be anytime thereafter.” There is talk of trying to fast track this vote so we could see Isaacman on the 9th floor in a week or so.

Keith’s note: Last week a large group of former NASA astronauts sent a letter to Senators Cruz and Cantwell in support of Jared Isaacman’s nomination to be NASA Administrator. His (re)nomination hearing will be held on Wednesday. Letter below.

Keith’s note: AI is the hot thing now: bubble or no bubble. NASA and the space community just lost much of its workforce. The OSTP Genesis Mission which talks about a “moonshot” AI effort makes no mention of NASA. But NASA is going to the Moon. Will NASA enter uncharted territory with AI to backfill for lost capability? Or will it be left behind to do more – with less? Or will NASA’s incredible charter and stellar workforce be energized to figure out a better path – “as only NASA can”? THAT is the challenge before Jared Isaacman. May The Force Be With Him 🚀 (image created with @Grok)

Keith’s note: There is some chatter in DC that scheduling the re-nomination hearing in the Senate for Jared Isaacman on 3 December may mean that he misses a batch of nominations that are expected to come to a vote soon. So we may not see a vote happen for a while – perhaps even early next year. Meanwhile – remember Matt Anderson? He was nominated to be Deputy NASA Administrator in May. No one has said much – if anything – about his confirmation process.

Keith’s note: According to this press release from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation there will be a “Full Committee Nominations Hearing for Jared Isaacman (NASA) and Steven Haines at Dept. of Commerce on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM EST in Committee Hearing Room, Russell 253. The hearing will stream live on the Committee web site and YouTube.”

Keith’s note: the following was sent out to the NASA workforce today: “A Message From Acting Administrator Sean Duffy: Welcome Back NASA Team, Thank you for your dedication and resilience throughout the shutdown. From those who sustained mission-critical operations, to those who remained on call, to those who were furloughed, I appreciate your role in helping us continue NASA’s essential mission, even during a shutdown.”

Keith’s note: According to an agencywide note to NASA employees: “A Message From Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya Anticipation of Resuming Normal Operations: NASA Team, In anticipation of the passage of a bill that will end the government forward to welcoming all staff back from furlough as early as tomorrow. Please watch NASA’s external website for confirmation. If your situation returning to work tomorrow, please discuss this with your supervisor. Sincerely, Amit Kshatriya NASA Associate Administrator”.

Keith’s note: A recent Politico article cited some internal ideas Jared Isaacman offered to Interim Administrator Sean Duffy. The article said “Isaacman’s manifesto would radically change NASA’s approach to science. He advocates buying science data from commercial companies instead of putting up its own satellites, referring to it a “science-as-a-service.” This article has morphed in various discussion to come out as characterizing Isaacman being anti-science at NASA. In his response summarizing his Project Athena document, Isaacman wrote: “Personally, I have publicly defended programs like the Chandra X-ray Observatory, offered to fund a Hubble reboost mission, and anything suggesting that I am anti-science or want to outsource that responsibility is simply untrue.” Below is the letter that Issacman wrote to former NASA Administrator Nelson in 2024 when news of defunding Chandra first broke. Just remember: Isaacman funded two crewed missions that he crammed full of science and in the process also raised a quarter of a billion dollars for research and support for St. Jude. More below.

Keith’s note: according to a Truth Social post: “Sean Duffy has done an incredible job as Interim Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This evening, I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA. Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era. Congratulations to Jared, his wife Monica, and their children, Mila and Liv. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT”

Keith’s note: this was posted on Twitter by Jared Isaacman @rookisaacman on 4 November 2025: “It is unfortunate that NASA’s team and the broader space community have to endured distractions like this. There are extraordinary opportunities and some risks ahead and so the focus should be on the mission. With many reporters and other interested parties reaching out, I want to help bring some clarity to the discussion… unfortunately, that means another long post”: [Full posted text below]

Keith’s note: Well done Sean Duffy for getting NASA and the President’s Artemis lunar missions back in the headlines. The top “NASA” stories on Google involve two Reality TV stars talking about Moon hoaxes. You’re in a league with the Kardashians now. What will you talk about in next week’s show?

Keith’s note: This is simply pathetic Sean Duffy. You clearly canot read the room Virtually your entire NASA workforce is shut out with no pay and you’d rather spend time worrying about a fellow reality TV star than them. Get a grip Dude. You were at White House and siad that you are worried that DOT employees are not being paid, their families are suffering, etc. But you are also acting/interim NASA Administrator. But you say nothing about the same circumstance confronting NASA folks – civil service and contractors. If you can’t do both jobs then pick one that you CAN do – and give the other job to someone else who can do it. But wait: there’s more (see below)

Keith’s note: Has anyone heard NASA’s part-time leader Sean Duffy recently reach out, motivate his NASA workforce, seek out shutdown, furlough, RIF, layoff, concerns – or otherwise show visible, enduring support for their hardship? Or does DOT get all of his attention? Just wondering.

Keith’s note: according to Former NASA nominee Jared Isaacman in talks to become agency’s chief: “Jared Isaacman, the private astronaut and Elon Musk ally who was removed from consideration to lead NASA earlier this year, met with acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy this week as a candidate for leading the space agency, a NASA spokesperson said.“

Keith’s note: According to CNBC: “President Donald Trump has met with Jared Isaacman to discuss another nomination to lead NASA, a source familiar with the talks confirmed to CNBC’s Morgan Brennan. Trump and Isaacman have had multiple in-person meetings in recent weeks to talk about the Shift4 founder’s vision for the space program, according to Bloomberg citing a person familiar with the meetings.”