Keith’s note: Yesterday 6 people on the Blue Origin NS-31 flight crossed the Kármán line and entered “space”. More people – some of prominence – now speak of the value of – and the awe encountered in – space. Alas, lots of space folks on social media say that they’re not “astronauts”. I wonder how many space fans would change their mind if they had a chance to do the same thing. Just sayin’. FWIW soon-to-be NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (an astronaut) said this from a more lofty perspective:

Keith’s note: After 6 weeks of chaos most of the space advocacy and industry lobbying community are going along with whatever happens to the NASA and its contractor community. No approval or disapproval. Just BAAAH like sheep. Yes, I am talking about you: Aerospace Industries Association, American Astronautical Society, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Coalition for Deep Space Exploration, Commercial Spaceflight Federation, National Space Club, Space For Humanity, Club for the Future, Space Foundation, Space Frontier Foundation, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, Space Force Association, Women in Aerospace, etc.

Keith’s note: This American Astronomical Society (AAS) call to action should not be a surprise to anyone. Project 2025 made mention of it, actions already taken against NOAA, NSF, NASA, EPA, CDC, NIH show a complete disregard for science. And DOGE has supercharged things. It is only going to get worse with RIFs and wholesale budget slashing. “AAS Alarmed by Rumored Deep Cuts to NASA and National Science Foundation“:

Keith’s note: Huge budget cuts will soon destroy much of NASA Science. Science either enables the technology to launch a payload or (most of the time) is the prime reason for the mission in the first place. Sometimes people tag along to make sure the Science gets done – sometimes on themselves. This may be a losing battle – but fight on we must. This cannot last forever. If you ever saw “The World According to Garp” then the second half of this scene should be an object lesson. Ad astra per scientiam

Keith’s note: The Planetary Society has distinguished itself by speaking out and standing up for its members and the people of the NASA space exploration and research community. Bravo. See “The Planetary Society Strongly Opposes Mass Layoffs of Probationary Employees at NASA“:

• The Planetary Society strongly opposes the sudden, indiscriminate dismissal of more than 1,000 scientists, engineers, and explorers at NASA — the largest involuntary workforce reduction since the end of the Apollo program. While we recognize the value of improved efficiency and structural optimization, any workforce changes should be in service of improving the agency’s ability to execute its mission. Indiscriminate layoffs do not serve this purpose.

• These public servants — many of whom are just starting their careers— represent the future of NASA. Their removal does not reflect their abilities or commitment to advancing U.S. interests in space, only that they chose to join the nation’s space agency within the past year.

• We urge the Trump Administration to reverse this arbitrary decision and work with Congress and other stakeholders to define a clear strategy for continued U.S. leadership in space and to ensure the nation’s space agency has the workforce necessary to succeed in its mission.

Keith’s note: Will someone please explain how a bunch of older folks (all well-intentioned, to be sure) on the NASA Advisory Council are expected to have clear knowledge of what the Artemis Generation actually wants their future in space to be? Based on these official photos, there is no one on the NAC who is apparently under 50. Many are over 60, several are well over 70. Two are over 80. The youngest of them will be in their 60s if/when we land on Mars. Just sayin’ Oh yes I am 68.

Keith’s Note: There is a NASA Advisory Council Meeting (NAC) today and tomorrow. If you have nothing better to do and want to listen to a bunch of people put forth opinions and ideas that NASA simply ignores, then tune in: Oh yes: Why is there never anyone under 40 – or under 30 – on the NAC? With all this talk about Artemis Generation, education, STEM diversity etc. there is no one on the NAC representing the ACTUAL sector of society that is moving into NASA and the global space industry. is there anyone on the NAC STEM committee who is actually a member of the Artemis Generation? No. Meeting info

"Only in the darkness can you see the stars" – Martin Luther King Jr. #MLKDay2022 #MLK pic.twitter.com/t8uMGDS7LV — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) January 17, 2022

Keith’s note: On Wednesday I listened to Administrator Bill Nelson testify before a Congressional Committee. During the course of the hearing every single member chimed in about the importance of NASA to their state (and vice versa) and twisted Nelson’s arm for a site visit. As the hearing wore on it was obvious that this was all transactional – they people who give things to NASA want things from NASA. […]

Woman In Motion, Star Trek And The Remaking Of NASA – A Review, SpaceRef “You know that you have been involved with something beyond living memory when you find yourself telling stories of things that affected the world today to people who never knew how things came to be. That is at the core of “Woman in Motion” – a documentary about the life of actress and activist Nichelle Nichols. […]

Time magazine's best inventions of 2020 "Ready for Takeoff – NASA Ingenuity Helicopter "https://t.co/CYxiBcqsyQ FYI @SciAstro @Dr_ThomasZ @JimBridenstine pic.twitter.com/VobPNs7d9K — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) December 2, 2020

It Was a Big Week in Politics for Star Trek: Voyager Fans, Slate “The show’s lasting influence can be felt in two stories from this week about prominent Democratic politicians, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Stacey Abrams, both of whom are fans of Voyager and, in particular, its lead character. The first surprise nod to Trek in the political sphere came from the Daily Mail’s unexpectedly wholesome interview with Blanca Ocasio-Cortez, who […]

Getting strange emails with wacky conspiratorial arm waving language from the "Space Development Steering Committee" – a "group" that brags about its membership but refuses to identify all of its members when asked. Just what space advocacy needs right now. — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) August 10, 2018

Scientists plan to march on Washington — but where will it get them?, Washington Post “Mike Brown, the Caltech astronomer who famously “killed Pluto” with his discovery of dwarf planets in the outer solar system, said he still has misgivings. He’s not opposed to activism in general — Brown took his daughter to the Women’s March in Los Angeles in January and called it “one of the most amazing things […]