Keith’s note: I was just on i24 in Israel talking about the Artemis Accords (I used a visual aid), the Artemis II mission, international cooperation in space exploration, inspiration, and that maybe – just maybe – a hope that the way we explore space can teach us something about how we can get along better back on Earth e.g. the ultimate space spinoff. [Audio]

Keith’s note: the other day the Planetary Society just had their SaveNASAScience thing on Capitol Hill. Lotsof space advocates and actual space scientists walked the halls of Congress. Good on ya. More people should do this and not just on one certain day. Alas, neither the Planetary Society nor any of its participating organizations sent out media advisories. Tick tock. Yesterday there was a hearing with Jared Isaacman about NASA’s 2027 Presidential Budget Request. Among the most significant aspects of the budget is the second attempt in as many years by OMB and the White House to gut NASA science – of all kinds. Yet no mention was made – or coverage offered – by the Planetary Society or these groups (that I can find – please correct me on this). One day sugar-high events like the SaveNASAScience thing fade fast. 24 hours and *poof*. Yet it is important for organizations like The Planetary Society and individuals to be interacting with the day-to-day efforts, down in the weeds, where the rubber hits the road and actual budgets are crunched by those who would halt their damaging effects. This is a marathon, not a one day sprint for photo ops.

Washington, D.C. – Today, a group of 103 former NASA Astronauts launched Astronauts For America, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to upholding constitutional values; restoring public trust in American democracy; and supporting leaders who respect science, use data to make decisions, and work across political differences for the good of the American people. As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, the former NASA Astronauts are reaffirming the oath they each took to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. More below

Keith’s note: According to “NASA Is the Most Underrated Brand“ by Mia Silverio: “On Friday, four astronauts returned to Earth after venturing deeper into space than anyone has gone before. The mission, Artemis II, sent a rocket weighing 5.7 million pounds around the moon and back, setting the stage for a future lunar landing. This incredible feat is a timely reminder that American excellence still exists — if only under the NASA logo.” Totally agree – and as NASAWatch readers have certainly noticed by now I have more than a few things to say about NASA’s immense – yet totally under-utilized – reach, branding, and soft power.

Keith’s note: Last year NASA was going through a brutal downsizing effort. To make things worse the Administration’s budget request for FY 2026 would have imposed draconian cuts to NASA. Now the White House is at it again with proposed budget FY 2027 cuts that would cripple large parts of NASA. I needed your financial support last year to keep NASAWatch running. I need help again. I tried to retire but … I am not drawing any salary from this. The funds go to what it takes to run the site and add new talent to it. NASAWatch is a tiny presence when it comes to immense NASA. Sometimes it squeaks with a loud voice – thanks to you.

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Keith’s note: According to a press release from Planetary Science Caucus Co-Chairs Chu and Bacon: “Last week, President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget request, which proposes to cut NASA’s overall budget by 23% and cut NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) by 47%. This request would also terminate more than 40 space missions, including the Mars Sample Return mission led by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a first-of-its-kind mission to return samples from Mars to Earth and unlock groundbreaking insights into the planet’s history and the potential for past life.” More below

Keith’s note: The Artemis II mission got off to a slow start. Then it hit the road at warp speed. The novelty of a Moon mission and swelling media coverage all helped to push some of the bad news aside for a few minutes every hour. Real pictures exceeding the best SciFi splashed out on social media and TV. Many people were pleasantly caught by surprise that this was even happening. But soon the crew will be home. And the hoopla will subside – and then quickly disappear. Humanity just mounted its first mission to another world in half a century and we’re already moving on the latest war or scandal. This happened after the first Apollo missions. Are we doomed to see history repeat itself with Artemis? Or can NASA and the broader world community keep this nascent era of interplanetary exploration alive and at the forefront on people’s daily lives – especially the “Artemis Generation”. Follow-through and building momentum is harder than the hardest rocket science. Just sayin’ More to follow.

Keith’s note: Space fans worry online about lack of awareness about Artemis II. Only now do they see the need to engage with the public. Duh. Try talking to folks outside your bubble – every day. Jared Isaacman says 2027 will have monthly NASA moon missions. OK. Start talking that up. Now.

Keith’s note: In case you have not already noticed NASA and space exploration have a deep branding and meme penetration. These two ads just ran (again) back to back midday on CNN. NASA will get exposure for ~12 days for Artemis II – then nothing – since NASA doesn’t know how to do follow-up. “Project Hail Mary” sugar high tie-ins are great – but what do you do when everyone has seen it?

• Credit One Ad https://www.instagram.com/reels/DV9fXmmDdy0/
• Old Spice Ad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xywz26wIRLs

Keith’s note: Jared Isaacman took several Trump family members for a plane ride the other day. Before you start to wag your fingers at him for this – understand that there will be many more opportunities for lots of NASA employees – and others – to get the same opportunity and that Isaacman is footing the bill for all of the expenses – in his own jets (yes he painted NASA logos on them). FYI he likes to fly lots of people in these jets and has been doing so for years. Silver Snoopys are nice. But pulling a bunch of Gs is … fun. Two tweets were posted that go into further detail. (see below).

Keith’s note: Playing with memes – prompted by other memes. Much of the what is being pumped out on social media by the Administration and its agencies seems to be more about bullying and less about inspiration.

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: Update on the next Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) sponsored by USRA’s LPI.

• If you go to the LPSC abstract submission page, the top Abstract Submission Criteria listed says “All submitted abstracts must comply with Administration Executive Orders. Any non-compliant abstracts will be removed from consideration for the conference program.”
• The words “Administration Executive Orders“ links to a page regarding DEI which says “NASA headquarters advised LPI and the AGs in late January that all AG activities were to be paused to give the agency time to review them to ensure that they complied with “presidential actions.” Among those presidential actions are various Executive Orders, memoranda, and other directives terminating DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion)-related positions and activities throughout the federal government. (“IDEA” is LPI’s term for “DEI.”)”
• I already know of several instances wherein people have submitted LPSC abstracts including DEI topics which were summarily rejected. I have also seen social media postings wherein space and planetary scientists and students are objecting to this policy and, in some cases, are refusing to attend/participate at this year’s LPSC.
• Oddly enough LPI has a rather DEI-centric Code of Conduct listed on its site – something that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusions that the NASA DEI police might take issue with. Just sayin’.
• Update On USRA/LPI/LPSC Diversity Censoring (earlier post)
• LPI DEI Censorship Memo From USRA/LPI (earlier post)
• USRA’s Non-Deletion Deletion of LPI Website Material (earlier post)

Keith’s note: A few weeks ago The Planetary Society was waving its arms about saving NASA science. Great. Then silence. A month later Jared Isaacman has been renominated – not a peep from Planetary Society – just crickets.

Keith’s note: Some complain NASA Watch has turned political. Oops. This is an existential moment for NASA (and everything else). Everyday I’m beset with putrid politics colliding with a hopeful future – one that usually keeps me (and you) going. Many of you have been thrown out of a job you were drawn to as a child because of this mess. I do this Internet thing by the seat of my pants – as are you with your lives right now. Don’t let these b*stards take your future away from you. I’m a child of StarTrek so I use clips to convey things. Here’s today’s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYZ4IoyztIw

Keith’s note: There’s a big space space science thing on Capitol Hill today. No media were allowed – at least not until I got a message rather late last night saying that there was going to be an impromptu media event. But I did not get this update from the Planetary Society – since they simply refuse to put me on any mailing list – or contact me. Whatever. I am just a little fish. Rather, I got the media note from a sponsoring organization who told me that they had just gotten it from Planetary Society. So much for making sure that this whole save space science thing gets maximal media exposure. And if Planetary Society does not like you – oh well. Planetary Society does cool stuff but their leadership often behaves like a bunch of snowflakes and they ignore anything wherein they are not the biggest pony in the parade. Many of the participating organizations did little – if anything – to promote this event. BUT – to all of you who showed up: massive congratulations are in order. Each one of you represented thousands of others who could not participate. Alas, one-off events with no follow-up evaporate very fast – especially with fast news cycles and vastly more important societal and political issues bombarding us. FWIW I just tweeted this. Did I forget anything?

• The space science crowd does not talk about human spaceflight – droids are better
• The human spaceflight crowd simply says they “do some science” after they land – and photo ops
• Commercial space companies think they can do everything NASA does – better
• Science & human space flight folks are wary of commercial space – since everything is “payload”
• Outside the space bubble no one seems to care – since they have growing rent and food concerns
• True explorers sit back and watch in frustration.

Keith’s note: according to “No Cuts to NASA, Say Supporters & Experts at Rally Outside Headquarters”: Yesterday, NASA supporters held a rally outside the agency’s headquarters to call for a congressional budget that fully funds the agency, and to call on NASAs leadership to stop making cuts to programs before the budget has even been passed. A crowd heard from speakers ranging from NASA employees to science advocates to Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10). (More below)

Keith’s note: As you ponder protests, policies, and how everyone should respond, re-read this part of the Executive Order that erases NASA’s union rights. It redefines what NASA is – despite whatever wording is in its charter or innumerable authorization and appropriations over the years. It says that NASA is “hereby determined to have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work. It is also hereby determined that Chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, cannot be applied to these agencies and agency subdivisions in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations.” No mention of that science and exploration stuff. Indeed, this pivots NASA closer to Space Force. And it is not to be unexpected that NASA employees may soon see their ability to speak out reigned in as it already is within the Defense and Intelligence agencies. Again, read the words. They are rather precise.

Keith’s note: Speaking as a person bitten by a space bug at age 6 in 1961, nothing in this Planetary Society piece “A cosmic perspective worth fighting for“ is actually incorrect per se. But it is written from the warped perspective of one person inside the space bubble talking to others inside the same space bubble. Anyone who takes 30 seconds looking outside that bubble will realize that the real world – where all of the non-space converts and decision makers spend 100% of their time – has no time for lofty goals and inspirational things. It is all about meat and potatoes, paychecks, whether or not you can love someone, all covered with a deep sauce of ‘us Vs them’. Space people need to read the room and adapt their strategies to the world as it is – not as we would like it to be. Ad Astra etc.