Keith’s note: I was just on CNN [Audio] talking about the New Glenn explosion last night – based mostly on video and initial reports of damage. The technical aspects, root cause etc. will take a while to emerge. Given delays with both SpaceX and Blue Origin contributions to the Artemis program this is a rather uncertain time for America’s return to the Moon. But NASA and its contractor team has bounced back before. I will also be on Deutsche Welle later this morning. Ad Lunam.

Keith’s note: a few minutes ago the Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on its launch pad during a static test. Major damage has been reported. To state the obvious – especially in light of issues with SpaceX Starship 12 flight, this certainly changes things for NASA’s Artemis plans. Of course NASASpaceflight.com, always alert, caught the whole thing.

Once upon a time humans took short trips to the Moon. Then we stopped. Now we are going back – to stay. The prospect of an actual Moon base wherein we live and work offworld utterly fascinates me. It has for more than 50 years. Now we’re actually going to do it. How we do this whole Moon base thing absolutely captivates me. I’m going to write a lot about this on NASAWatch.com and Astrobiology.com as I pivot my efforts in the years ahead. I am already writing a book on how to mount Astrobiology expeditions on this world – and beyond. So these dispatches will be somewhat of an installment series from that process. More below

Keith’s note: According to this press release from the National Space Society, I will be receiving the NSS’s ‘Space Pioneer Award for excellence in mass media’. I am not exactly the award winning type. As such, I am doubly flattered by this – especially given the folks who have been similarly honored in prior years. More below.

Keith’s note: According to this press release NASA did a big Moon base reveal today. Lunar landers, rovers, and drone selections were announced. Two Moon-related BAAs will be released as well. And the NASA Moonbase website has some upgrades.

Keith’s note: I asked Achintya Bairat (social accounts) from NASA JSC if I could post this rather inspiring story he just posted on LinkedIn. Wow. What an experience. Space is a potent calling. “April 16th is a day etched into my memory forever. In the morning, I received a call for an interview for my dream job at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Two hours later, I got a call from my doctor. “We’ve diagnosed you with stage 4 metastatic cancer. If we don’t treat this now, you won’t have a future to worry about, let alone an interview.” As fate would have it, my first surgery was scheduled for the exact same time and day as my NASA interview.” More below

Keith’s note: I was just on CGTN to talk about the launch of Shenzhou 23 and China’s longer term space ambitions. And I managed to get a plug in regarding the Artemis Accords (at 3:02). [Audio]

Keith’s note: according to “White House is ordering agencies to place its new app on all employees’ government phones” on Government Executive: “The White House recently unveiled a new app to give the public “unfiltered” access to “key priorities,” “historic moments” and “policy breakthroughs.” Now, it’s directing agencies to help install it on the government phones of federal employees.” FYI NASA employees: Here’s a link to the app that will soon appear on your government-issued phones. I wonder if NASA PAO items will be posted there. It is rated as useful for people ages 4+. What could possibly go wrong.

Keith’s note: according to U.S. researchers face new restrictions on publishing with foreign collaborators from Science Magazine: “Grants managers at two of the U.S. government’s largest funders of scientific research have recently placed unprecedented limitations on the ability of U.S. scientists to publish with co-authors from other countries, researchers say. Units of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are privately directing grantees to request permission in advance for any co-authorship with a scholar affiliated with a foreign institution, even if all the work was done in the United States. NASA, meanwhile, is reportedly telling some grantees that papers co-authored with researchers in China may have violated its rules.”

Keith’s note: The V 3.0 edition of the SpaceX Starship made its maiden flight tonight. The first stage with its sexy new Raptor 3 engines and total vehicle redesign did OK on the way uphill – but struggled with engine issues on the way back and made big splash (as planned) in the Gulf of Mexico. Ship 39 did much better. It lost a vacuum Raptor during ascent but otherwise did everything perfectly in space – except a Raptor re-light. A bunch of Starlink test satellites made elegant departures from the Ship’s ‘Pez dispenser’. They were followed by two “Dodger Dogs” – variants of the Starling 3 platform – equipped with cameras to look back at the spacecraft. And wow, they sure did. What a view. Re-entry was smooth and the vehicle looked rather clean as it did a soft water propulsive landing, fell over and did a nice rapid disassembly.

Keith’s note: Here it is: Jared Isaacman’s Magnum Opus 2.0 on how to reorganize and reboot NASA. Typos are mine not Jared’s. Oh yes – the picture, well … early on, Jared said he wanted to develop “Starfleet Academy” at NASA, right? “It has been a busy few weeks, and I wanted to provide some updates. To begin, I want to once again acknowledge the incredible contributions of the NASA workforce, along with our commercial and international partners, in sending the Artemis II crew safely on a historic mission around the Moon. You have captivated the world again, and now the show goes on as we prepare to return to the surface, build a base, and get ready for where we will inevitably go next.” While this is a long letter discussing organizational changes, the objectives remain unchanged …. ” Full letter below

Keith’s note: NASA just issued this press release: “NASA announced plans Friday to compete the next contract for managing and operating the agency’s federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in Southern California at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), to ensure continued accountability and strong value for U.S. taxpayers.” Full text below

Keith’s note: NASA Just issued this: “NASA announced Friday an agencywide realignment to increase mission focus and move out on the National Space Policy. These changes position the agency to better deliver on the nation’s highest‑priority objectives with speed and efficiency.” Full (rather lengthy and specific) announcement below

Keith’s note: the following was sent by NASA Administrator Isaacman to the NASA work force up on the swearing in of Matt Anderson to be NASA Deputy Administrator: “NASA Team, I’m pleased to share that Colonel Matt Anderson, USAF, (Ret.), has officially joined NASA as Deputy Administrator. Matt brings extensive experience across the U.S. Air Force, the commercial space industry, and the Space Force Association, where he worked closely with government, industry, and national security stakeholders to strengthen America’s position in space. Throughout his career, he has built a strong reputation for operational excellence, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the importance of American leadership in the ultimate high ground”. Full text below

Keith’s note: According to this news story the NASA Advisory Council is being disassembled. No mention has been made by NASA if it will continue to exist/function, who will be on it, and what it will/will not do: “NASA officials provided a statement to El Paso Matters that appears to be the agency’s first public comment on its plans for the NASA Advisory Committee. Committee members are not paid for their service.“The NASA Advisory Council is a discretionary committee that reports directly to the NASA administrator. The NAC has an active charter in place through September 2027. The composition of the NAC and the topics it addresses are within the authority and discretion of the administrator. Future membership is under discussion,” the statement said.” Earlier NASA Advisory Council posts.

Keith’s note: according to a press release from the Select Committee on China: “The committee’s report, Research Security for America’s Future in Space: NASA’s Enforcement of the Wolf Amendment, reviewed NASA-supported research collaborations involving entities affiliated with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including several institutions connected to China’s defense industrial base. The report identifies hundreds of NASA-supported or funded publications that potentially violate the Wolf Amendment due to bilateral research collaborations between American and Chinese coauthors and institutions. These findings raise significant concerns regarding the adequacy of historical post-award monitoring, enforcement, institutional disclosure practices, and the agency’s ability to identify potentially prohibited collaborations occurring under NASA-funded research awards.”

Keith’s note: Depending on what effort is in motion, ISS will be shut down in 2030. Maybe a year or two later. There was a session at AIAA ASCEND today “A Microgravity Laboratory of the Future“. Given recent comments by NASA Admininstrator et al that the case for the things ISS was supposed to do having not been made, the issue as to whether CASIS needs to exist arises. The ISS National Laboratory exists in law and was created by Congress. The law stipulates a non-profit entity to manage to U.S. portion of the ISS dedicated to ISS National Lab functions i.e. CASIS. If the International Space Station is dumped into the ocean then CASIS has no ISS National Lab to manage. With all of the future commercial space stations – real and imaginary – setting up their own commercial/academic research ecosystems, the need for CASIS is no longer obvious. Earlier CASIS postings.

Keith’s Note: NASA press release: The United States Senate today voted to confirm Matthew Anderson, Col, USAF, Ret., as the Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Anderson was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and will serve as the 16th Deputy Administrator of the agency.

Keith’s note: there are some blatant truths in this piece “Are we pilots or are we passengers?“ by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. The same growing distrust in Europe with regard to the U.S. and NATO is now expanding into NASA/ESA relations. It’s our own fault folks. This is no way to treat our friends. We can fix this. Just sayin’.

• “Recent changes to the Artemis architecture by the United States signal a rapidly shifting landscape in human space exploration. Decisions to pause Gateway and cancel Mars Sample Return disrupt Europe’s lunar exploration plans, underscoring a broader reality: Europe has become too exposed to decisions beyond its control.“
• “Europe must decide whether it prefers to be dependent on others to send its explorers into space or to assume its role as a fully capable space power. As the head of the European Space Agency (ESA), I am convinced that autonomous human spaceflight is not a luxury. It is a necessary anchor for Europe to secure its freedom to unlock the scientific, economic, strategic and geopolitical benefits of space and to inspire a new generation to shape Europe’s future.”

Keith’s note: America and Canada were inspired a proud of Artemis II. NASA said that -a lot. And its true. The crew visited Congress but NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens only reposts Republican social media on her official account @NASASpox. No Dems. No mention of Canada. Why? C’mon. We’re ALL proud. Oh yes … after the midterm elections NASA may need those Democrats to help out on things. Just sayin’