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 Jaed 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]

“Andrew ‘Andy’ John Stofan, a distinguished NASA leader who guided key space missions and oversaw the initial development of the International Space Station program, died on October 26th in Fair Oaks, VA, at age 90.” Ad Astra (obituary)

Keith’s note: There’s now a “Project Athena” to fix Artemis, Orion, and lots of Greek mythology things; a plan developed by someone; reimagined by someone else; leaked but never published; to thwart the original author’s chance of becoming NASA administrator. I’m waiting to hear what Kim Kardashian thinks about all of this. According to Politico: “The 62-page plan, obtained by POLITICO, proposes outsourcing some of NASA’s missions to the private sector and treating the government agency more like a business. The draft, known as “Project Athena,” not only showcases Isaacman’s radical vision for the space agency. It comes as he reemerges as a potential candidate for the position against acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy. The longtime space enthusiast gave the confidential manifesto to Duffy this summer, according to two people familiar with the plan, but never meant for it to go public. Isaacman and Duffy are now battling for control of the agency and President Donald Trump’s support.”

Keith’s note: A report from a NASA Goddard employee: “I asked excepted people if they have seen any change in Building 36. A move has started and movers moved all of our belongings out from our offices, packed our stuff into boxes, and left it in conference rooms. We were told before that we’d be notified if we needed to move out of our office. Then we were told that there will be no move during the shutdown.” Other GSFC employees have mentioned moves that they were told were not supposed to happen during the shutdown.

Keith’s note: according to a press release issued by GESTA, (Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association – IFPTE local 29) the employee union at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, on Saturday night: “Throughout there has been a complete breakdown in communication from NASA agency and Center leadership where decisions are rarely communicated, almost always only verbally, and not directly by the decision makers.” Full release below

Keith’s lament: Apollo missions to the Moon were seen as great feats of exploration by the media. As we try to do that again NASA has clearly lost control of the narrative to tabloid-level stupidity. Since this whole ‘Back to the Moon, Mars, Beyond’ etc. thing was announced 21 years ago we constantly lose our way and get distracted and drag things out faster than we accomplish those things. And now we are going to beat China to the Moon? That’s not gonna happen unless we change the way the government/space industry hive mind does things. Moreover, it will not happen unless NASA gets the population and media on board while all this other crap is going on. Just sayin’

Keith’s note: according to “NASA cuts dozens of Marshall Space Flight Center-based ISS jobs“ by WHNT Huntsville: “Congressman Robert Aderholt’s office confirmed NASA has cut dozens of International Space Station jobs based at Marshall Space Flight Center. Aderholt’s office said several dozen contract employees connected with ISS were let go Friday. They said this is part of the transition as NASA prepares to deorbit the ISS in 2030. Operations at MSFC with the ISS include communicating with astronauts to conduct experiments through the ISS Payload Operations Integration Center.”

Keith’s note: (to no one and everyone in particular. You decide.) In case you haven’t noticed under this Administration people have been fired for the use of one word. Its in the newspapers every day. Everyone is freaked out. I protect my sources and anonymize/edit things when I get them to assure that people (my sources) cannot be identified. Alas, some of you seem to be determined to out the sources or otherwise make it easier for my sources to be identified by paranoid NASA management. So, let me make this clear. I have zero tolerance for this. You will be blocked from commenting if you try. If you try to use other means to comment after I block you I will do my best to block your company/organization etc. from reading NASA Watch and explain why. Got that? (again) people in the civil servant and contractor community are freaked out enough as it is and I am trying to keep them informed while the government is shut down as well as when it is open. I will not be a party to ANYONE being fired or punished for speaking out. Ad Astra y’all.

Keith’s note: If you have been through a typical NASA design review then you know that words have meaning. As noted the other day (see NASA Email: Upcoming Second Formal Furlough Notice) NASA folks are getting those new 30 day furlough notices. There is a significant difference in language from round 1 and round 2. The first round letter says you “WILL be receiving retroactive pay …” In the second letter it says “IF you receive retroactive pay”. “Will” and “If” are not the same thing. In other words there is some doubt that everyone will get retroactive pay – right? You know this because NASA has an army of crack lawyers (who are all currently on furlough) who read these words very, very carefully – and always say what they mean and mean what they say, right? Sounds like someone may be slow rolling people out of retroactive pay. Exact text excerpts below.

Keith’s note: according to a well researched and brutally accurate story “NASA is sinking its flagship science center during the government shutdown” at Space.com: “The workforce at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland, say this has put groundbreaking missions at risk, and is degrading roadblocks designed to safeguard human lives. Now, under the cloak of a closed U.S. government, nearly half the GSFC campus — the hub of NASA science — is marked for abandonment.”

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: By now you’ve heard all the goofy talk of a comet from outside our star system that might be an interstellar spaceship coming around the sun. I was reminded of something else that happened on this date – 30 October 1938: The infamous “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast by Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater. It drove a lot of people slightly nuts – including my grandmother. She listened to the broadcast along with my father on this Croydon AM/Shortwave radio. And the radio still works. If the comet sends a probe toward Grovers Mill, New Jersey, be scared. Very scared.

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: yea I know there is a #shutdown but this rates 9 out of 10 on the Scrooge scale Cynthia Simmons and Sean Duffy. (edited) Email sent this week to NASA Goddard employees: “Reminder: Holiday Events Not Permitted at GSFC — Good afternoon, As we gear up for several months of various holidays, please note this reminder that holiday parties, get-togethers, team building events, potlucks, etc. are no longer permitted onsite at GSFC.” 31 Oct update: I just got this from NASA HQ Public Affairs in response to my social media and NASAWatch.com postings: “This message was not approved or authorized by NASA agencywide or GSFC leadership.”

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 Update: see “Is NASA Pulling Back On Retroactive Pay?“ Keith’s note: the following email “Shutdown furlough: Upcoming second formal furlough notice and additional information” was sent to everyone at NASA today. it opens with “When a lapse in appropriations exceeds 30 days, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations require agencies to treat it as a new formal furlough and issue a second formal furlough notice.” Full message below.

Keith’s note: A year ago NASA and other government agencies were trying to broaden outreach to all Americans. NASA had a particular focus on reaching underserved communities. That has now evaporated. Instead, government agencies such as the Department of Labor have decided that 1950’s white males with chiseled features in heroic poses should be the symbol of what America is all about.

Keith’s note: According to “Largest government union calls for clean CR to end shutdown“: “American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National President Everett Kelley said “it’s time” for Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government. “No half measures, and no gamesmanship,” Kelley said. “Put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay — today.”

Keith’s note: I’m taking some advice from @astro_jaz – A few days off under very dark skies. NASAWatch will be on pause. FWIW the more you (we) space people argue with each other about stupid things, the less likely we’ll get to explore this universe. This is serious stuff. NASA needs a leader to do this – not a talking head. Ad Astra.