Keith’s note: During the President’s speech last night the Artemis II crew and Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt came on stage and were given the next flag to fly on the Moon. Jared Isaacman got a shout out for doing a great job running NASA. NASA got a lot of attention – which is good. What will we see in 2076? Ad Astra.
Biologist, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Biologist and Payload integrator, Editor of NASAWatch.com and Astrobiology.com, Lapsed climber, Explorer, Synaesthete, Former Challenger Center board member... More by Keith Cowing
Regarding PR, I’d say the July 4th celebration is a case of one step forward, two steps back. Isaacman needlessly ensnared himself (and NASA) in a back and forth concerning whether or not the July 4th flyover in his personal F-5 was a safety hazard or not. The FAA said it was (apparently because the F-5 is a single-engined plane) and denied the overflight request, only for Trump to overturn that decision and say it was OK. (Isaacman also added that, since the F-5 was designated a government and not civilian aircraft, the FAA had no jurisdiction; note that he said nothing about the safety of the flight, I don’t see what the classification of the aircraft has to do with that.) I’ve seen more coverage of this little item than Trump’s mention of NASA or the appearance of the Artemis II crew. And whether you agree that the F-5 flight was dangerous or not, it’s certainly not a good look for Isaacman (and NASA) to get caught up the ensuing mess. Somehow, in some way, everything (and everybody) Trump touches turns sour. Isaacman (and NASA) better get used to it.
I think that the jet flights heightened visibility for NASA – externally and internally with other agencies. Full stop. So do the NASA employee flights. Full stop. As for you not seeing coverage of Artemis II crew at the event on the Mall and elsewhere – all I can say is take a little more time to read the news. This was all over TV, newspapers, social media etc. ALL ADMINISTRATIONS have used NASA as a backdrop – some more than others – but all have. I speak from 30 years of watching them do so. FInd soemthing else to complain about – like Science cuts.
[editor’s note: deleted – you have said the same thing 5 times now. You have used up your air supply on this topic] And oh boy, have I got a lot of complaints about science cuts, including (but not limited to) the fact that the OMB withholds Congressionally-mandated funding for a number of NASA missions and Isaacman does nothing to rectify the situation. I mean, it would be nice if, in between the awards flights, he could at least try to do something about that. [editor’s note: answer he is – if you have proof to the contrary – proof – not WAG rumors – then post it. Source documents please.].