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: The exploration of space holds endless resonances with the exploration of Earth:

• On 6 April 1909 Matthew Henson became the first African American to reach the North Pole.
• On 6 April 2026 Victor Glover became the first African American to reach the Moon

Keith’s note: Jared Isaacman was on CNN’s State of the Union today talking about Artemis II, NASA’s FY 2027 budget proposals, and … life in the universe. [Audio] He was also on CBS’ Face The Nation today talking about Artemis II and NASA’s FY 2027 budget proposals [Audio].

Keith’s note: Last night NASA and White House cheered the TLI burn to send Artemis II to the Moon. Less than 12 hrs later – on Good Friday (and Passover) when people aren’t at work – OMB drops a massive punitive cut to NASA. What a nice way to say “well done NASA“. I can’t wait to see how NASA PAO spins this one.

Keith’s 11 Nov 2025 note: 75% – 3/4 of the people on this planet have never seen humans walk on another world. We’re suddenly in a race to go back to the Moon and we are not clearly in the lead. The next time humans walk on the Moon will be the first time this happens as far as most of humanity is concerned. History is just history. Instead of grainy, flickering black and white imagery on a hulking television we’ll all see people bouncing on the Moon in 4K streaming on our cellphones. How does NASA adapt to this paradigm shift? So far, it is not doing that well. More below.

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: NASA PAO has posted a how-to article on interviews with Artemis II crew today for media who either have no idea how to do an interview or for media in a hurry. Lots of leading questions are suggested. And there’s a link to request an interview (you can’t request one by email). No mention of questions about the current president are offered – so someone at HQ 9th floor will likely issue a reprimand – and make an update.

Keith’s note: Yesterday I taped a long form 16 minute interview with David Levitz at Deutsche Welle about NASA’s big Moon plan changes. Yes, I am excited – and after waiting 50 years for this, I am a little impatient too. Let’s go back to the Moon – to stay. Video

Keith’s note: the following was posted by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman: NASA Team Members, We are calling today’s event Ignition because it represents the start of a transformative journey for NASA. In the few short months since I began this role, we have moved quickly. That urgency reflects the reality of great power competition, the importance of our mission, and the implications if we fail to meet the moment and come up short. Taxpayers support NASA because we can change the world in air, space, and science. As an agency, we can no longer endure externally imposed and self-inflicted distractions, attempting excessive multi-billion-dollar endeavors at once, forgoing the iterative, evolutionary approach to success, and jumping straight to the dream state. The results are captured in most OIG reports. Tens of billions are wasted, time is lost, and exploration and discovery suffer. The world has been waiting for the headlines only NASA is capable of delivering. It is time to focus and deliver. More below

Keith’s note: according to this press release: “NASA will host a public event at 9 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 24, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters in Washington to outline how the agency is executing President Donald J. Trump’s National Space Policy and accelerating preparations for America’s return to the surface of the Moon by 2028. The program will open with remarks from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, followed by a series of high-level panels providing updates on mission priorities, including sending the first astronauts to the lunar surface in more than 50 years, establishing the initial elements of a permanent lunar base, getting America underway in space on nuclear propulsion, and other objectives.” With a line-up like this and follow-on presser something will be announced. Science missions are still in limbo, workforce issues continue, but we’ll be seeing monthly lunar landings starting in 2027, and what to do about Gateway? Oh yes: How is NASA going to win the “second space race” and “make NASA great in space again”? etc. Ad Astra y’all.

Keith’s note: According to the Washington Space Business Roundtable: “At today’s WSBR Flagship Luncheon & Silent Auction, Rep. Mike Haridopolos reflected on the turnaround in sentiment that NASA has seen in the last 12 months. … The Space Subcommittee Chairman praised Administrator Jared Isaacman – a “James Bond for America” – for restructuring the Artemis program to increase the mission cadence while putting safety first. He likened the energy level in his district (Florida’s Space Coast) to the Apollo days.” Movie poster below.

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: As best I can collate the facts, on 18 March 1945, 81 years ago today, a V-2 missile was launched from Statenkwartier in The Hague in occupied Netherlands at 9:25 am by Germany’s Battery 485. My father was almost killed when it struck London a few minutes later. My 50 year career was enabled by that V-2. A direct descendant, a Saturn V, designed by the same V-2 team, placed Americans on the Moon. Now, in 2026, we are about to go back to the Moon on the stepchild of a Saturn V while V-2 inspired variants are still being fired by North Korea and Iran. The more things change … Full posting from 2025

Keith’s note: Dale Andersen is back from the first of two Astrobiology expeditions to Lake Untersee, Antarctica in 2026. This excerpt and photo captures the awesome beauty that accompanies forays into potentially dangerous locations as we advance science via exploration. A preview of coming attractions on Artemis II. “Just beneath Untersee’s ice, my tether runs ahead toward the distant glimmer of the dive hole, the only passage back from the blue and solitary world below. As I swim, I hear the measured rhythm of my own breathing and, now and then, the voices of colleagues on the surface carried through a thin, yellow line into the earpieces of my Kirby Morgan Exo-26 full-face mask. They ask for an update, reminding me to check my air pressure. A glance at my air-integrated dive computer, a few quick words in reply, and all is well. Soon, after a brief three-minute safety stop beneath the dive hole, I will return to the surface through the three and half meters (about twelve feet) of ice.” Full Report

Keith’s note: according to a telecom today all teams polled said GO for Artemis II. They are aiming for a rollout to the launch pad next week on 19 March. A launch attempt is planned as early as 1 April at 6:24 pm EDT . Another opportunity is in place on 2 April and would be at 7:22 pm. There are 4 launch opportunities within the 6 day period in early April. Notes from the media briefing below:

“NASA’s acquisition approach for the lunar landers has been effective in controlling contract costs, with the SpaceX and Blue Origin contracts having only increased by 6 percent and less than 1 percent, respectively. This was due in part to NASA negotiating mutually beneficial contract changes at no cost to the government. However, both SpaceX and Blue Origin have experienced schedule delays and face technical and integration challenges that have the potential to further impact lander costs and delivery schedules. In particular, SpaceX’s lander will not be ready for a June 2027 lunar landing. To accelerate lander development to meet a 2028 lunar landing date, NASA is assessing proposals from both SpaceX and Blue Origin, but it is too early to determine the technical feasibility, financial implications, and schedule impacts of these proposals.” — “While NASA is taking steps to prevent catastrophic events from occurring, ultimately, should the astronauts encounter a life-threatening emergency in space or on the lunar surface, NASA does not have the capability to rescue the stranded crew“. Full report

Keith’s note: As humanity expands outward we need to make sure it is all of humanity. Moreover, we may find that living in space may be a more enabling – and empowering – experience for some people than living on Earth. Eric Ingram has some thoughts: “I just published something I’ve been carrying quietly for a long time. It’s the full story of my experience with lunar gravity across two research flights, including the first time reduced gravity allowed me to stand unassisted, and what that moment taught me about access, human limits, and the future. This is the first time I’ve told the story in full, and the first time I’m sharing the lunar gravity photos and videos from the second flight. If you’re curious, I’d love for you to read it.” Full story.

Keith’s note: Space Twitter has a lot of noise. Mostly noise. Lots of snark. Some times an obvious question emerges. This was directed at Jared Isaacman:“What launch cadence do you have the budget to support? Once every 2.5 years? How about a little transparency? We all support what you want to achieve, yet we’re leery of the implementation”. Full conversation. — Unlike the usual NASA PAO response mechanism which takes hours or days, required meetings, approval cycles, and talking point insertion, this new guy just puts out commentary and direction – in near real time – in the actual fora where people converse – and many times in response to people who make clear points from an account with only a few followers. Small questions can yield important answers. Refreshing. See Isaacman’s response below.

Keith’s note: this procurement notice appeared today. Looks like Jared Isaacman is not wasting any time in his rebooting of the Artemis architecture: “NASA/MSFC has a requirement for next-generation upper stages for use in Space Launch System (SLS) Artemis IV and Artemis V. NASA/MSFC intends to issue a sole source contract to acquire next-generation upper stages for use in Space Launch System (SLS) Artemis IV and Artemis V from United Launch Alliance (ULA) in accordance with FAR 6.103-1(c), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements due to the highly specialized nature of this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition on a full and open competition basis is solely within the discretion of the Government.”