Keith’s note: Those of you in the space community know that NASA Science is facing an immense budget cut. Dozens of missions have been cancelled and many missions that are still returning valuable data are being shut off – in many cases to save a few million dollars – a tiny fraction of what it took to mount the missions in the first place. This data will be lost. In the case of New Horizons which is currently traversing the outer solar system, NASA is going to knowingly forfeit a third interstellar mission (after the twin Voyagers). This latest interstellar mission would be done with a healthy spacecraft outfitted with 21st century instrumentation. The Voyagers are minimally functional and will soon fade all together. We could continue to expand America’s pre-eminent exploration of interstellar space until the middle of this century. And that lead will last unchallenged for a generation or more to come. As I noted last month “This is not the way for America to lead the way out into the cosmos. Hopefully Congress will wake up and notice. Let’s ‘Keep America Great In Space’ — not abandon our lead.” More: Stellar Cartography: A Demonstration Of Interstellar Navigation Using New Horizons.

Keith’s note: I spent several hours at NASA HQ this morning at the protest event. By the time left around 10:00 am there were around 100 people there. Lots of cars honking, cheering, and loads of hand made signs that mostly focused on cuts being made to NASA’s budget – specifically to NASA’s Science activities. The crowd was friendly, courteous, with no trouble makers and minimal evidence of any security. While these events are often limited in their reach anyone inside of NASA HQ or arriving at work saw clear evidence that there are people from GSFC and HQ that are willing to take a public – and loud – stance on this issue. The one Trump sign quickly disappeared with a overall mostly non-partisan focus on cuts to NASA and how Congress might fix that. Kudos to these folks.

Keith’s note: With regard today’s protest event at NASA Headquarters, I simply do not understand why the Planetary Society (and all those other advocacy and industry groups) totally avoided even a mere mention of this event. You would think that some sort of tip of the hat toward active citizen involvement would be worthy of mention. A few weeks ago Planetary Society had a petition that got “20,787 signatures from around the world” and delivered them to some office in Congress. That’s nice – but it is a little weird that they are mounting an effort with non-US signatories when the folks on Capitol Hill only deal with their actual American constituents’ interests. Also, you’d think that the whole notion of a “rising tide lift all boats” or “united we stand, divided we fall” might occur to the Planetary Society folks. Instead they try and paint themselves an anointed savior and then only when it comes to a part of NASA’s budget – not all of it. This budget cut is an issue that affects all corners of the space sector in America – and the impact that this has on all Americans – not just a portion thereof.

Keith’s note: NASA Associate Administrators & Center Directors are told by the Acting Administrator to get more people to quit. Non-compliance by CDs/AAs will lead to their firing. And yes, there will be RIFs. Monday’s protest is a start. So, take Janet Petro’s advice: Embrace The Challenge – show them you won’t take this sitting down. Be safe.

Keith’s note: As noted last week there will be a protest outside of NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC from 7:00-11:00 am EDT on Monday, 30 June 2025. Information about the event can be found here. This event has obtained a formal permit from Metro DC Police. The event is endorsed by the Goddard Engineers, Scientists, and Technicians Association (GESTA). But NASA HQ management is not happy about this. This event is not endorsed by and does not represent the views of NASA or any employer doing business with NASA. But you would be wise to be aware of your surroundings and who may be watching you. The employee union is spreading in accurate information by mentioning the word “strike” – which this is not – and no one has ever said it was. Here is what the organizers, NASA employees union, NASA management, and the NASA HQ union says: (More below)

Keith’s note: HQ-NASA-INC sent this out at 3:04 PM edt today about the demonstration at NASA HQ On monday: “NASA Headquarters Team, A demonstration is scheduled to take place outside NASA Headquarters from 7 to 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, June 30. The demonstration is permitted by the Metro DC Police.

Keith’s note: Last week there was a NASA budget cut protest rally at NASA Glenn in Cleveland. (News story). Now there will be a NASA budget protest event at NASA HQ in Washington, DC next Monday from 7-11 am. (this graphic is their official poster). This event has a formal permit with Metro DC Police. Organizers will not prevent or dissuade anyone from entering HQ but will raise awareness about NASA budget cuts. More information here: https://sites.google.com/view/nasa-needs-help. Embrace The Challenge. More below:

Keith’s note: Last night NASA SMD AA Nicky Fox was presented with the Collier Award for NASA’s Parker Solar Probe – an astonishing mission that has literally touched the sun. NASA Comptroller nominee Greg Autry congratulated her with a tweet adding “Go NASA Science”. This morning the @NASASpaceSci Twitter account announced that it was being shut down and swallowed into a larger effort somewhere at NASA. Yet another example of how the NASA FY 2026 budget and other Administration Executive Orders and memos have moved to gut NASA’s science budget, cancel missions, eliminate external research grants, stiff other space agencies with international agreements, and cut personnel. Weirdly, (soon to be) Administration personnel like Autry try to laud NASA science. Some political staff at NASA even try to take credit for missions started and launched by other presidents. Alas, Autry will preside over the cancellation of all these science activities and he’ll write glowing tweets about what he cut. It’s now all Flags and Footprints. Science is a buzz word used as hashtag windowdressing in social media. If Greg Autry wants to cheer on Science at NASA then he’ll need to support it too after he arrives.

“Dear ASGSR (American Society for Gravitational and Space Research) Members and Friends, As you may have heard, the President’s Budget Request (PBR) was recently released and includes severe cuts to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. More specifically, NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division (BPS), which funds a lot of our research, faces a draconian 72% reduction in funds from $87.5M to just $25M. This budget includes only $13M for Physical Sciences research, $4M for Space Biology, and $4M for the CERISS initiative.” More

Keith’s note: I just posted this on Twitter. Some organizations need to get over themselves and shoulder in for the cause and not try a solo savior act. If y’all cannot get together on this then you have no right to expect that anyone else will. “If all you space/science organizations would simply follow and crosspost each other’s stuff there’d be enhanced awareness on everyone’s part WRT science funding legal cases, congressional visits, briefings, etc. No one organization or their associated celebrities is going to save the day or make a diving catch. United we stand … Just sayin’ @ExplorePlanets @AGU @NSS @csf_space @AIAA @AAS_Office @csf_space @aaas @AIP_HQ @SETIInstitute @XploreDeepSpace @WomeninAero @PGSFellowship @owensfellowship @SpaceFrontier @astrosociety @NASA“

Keith’s note: NASA Headquarters has decided to postpone this event. This notice was sent out this morning. “The NASA Science Community Meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 12 has been postponed, allowing time for all NASA Mission Directorates to brief internal staff and hold discussions on the FY26 President’s Budget Request. NASA has posted information and updates related to the FY26 President’s Budget Request here. NASA is in the process of having leaders at Centers and Mission Directorates brief their employees internally on the proposed budget. SMD has already engaged with the headquarters staff and staff located at field centers, and will continue to engage with more field centers in support of the science mission.” (More below)

11 June UDPATE: NASA Headquarters has decided to delay this event. This notice was sent out this morning.

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) will hold a virtual community meeting with Associate Administrator Nicky Fox and her leadership team at 12:00 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, June 12th. Members of SMD, the science community, academia, the media, and the public are invited to participate by joining using the WebEx link below. (More details below)

Keith’s note: Looks like the folks in Cleveland are taking a stand. There will be a Stop the NASA Budget Cuts Protest on Saturday, 21 June. “Thanks for RSVPing for our protest to stop the NASA budget cuts. NASA Glenn is facing a 40% workforce cut if Trump’s planned FY26 budget goes through, which means 500 career civil servants in the Cleveland area are facing layoffs. We need to show the NASA Glenn staff that we support them and we oppose these cuts!! Please don’t forget to invite your friends, family and colleagues if they’re as ready as you are to stand up and fight back for science this summer and beyond.” They are making Janet Petro’s advice and are going to Embrace The Challenge – of losing their jobs at NASA.

Keith’s 6 June update: Now equally valid sources are telling me that SBG work did NOT stop. So let’s just say a lot of people at JPL are confused right now. Not surprising. But not a good sign. Keith’s 4 June note: In response to the skinny budget the Surface Biology and Geology development team at NASA JPL has been given a stop work order – all travel, subcontracts, and development is to cease. I am hearing also that Mars Odyssey and Juno teams will also be getting a stop work order soon.

Keith’s note: NASA SMD just issued this solicitation notice: in response to Request for Information: Conference on Lunar, Planetary and Space Sciences issued in November 2024: Decision Made Not to Solicit Partnership Proposals – one Q&A response says “NASA will not be providing any financial support to the partner. Under the partnership approach, NASA partners on a collaborative basis with an entity that hosts its own conference. Under this arrangement, NASA pays for its own contributions to the partnership, while the partner covers the other conference costs, including providing the venue. NASA HQ also intends to participate in this conference as a venue for the dissemination and exchange of information and ideas among the lunar and planetary science communities.” Full notice and LPI update below.

Keith’s note: The Aerospace Industries Association has written a letter to Congress regarding NASA FY 2026 budget request: “The proposed $18.8 billion NASA budget for FY26, a 24.3 percent reduction from FY25 levels, would be detrimental to the renowned reputation of the United States in space exploration, science, earth science, technology research, and STEM education. Moreover, a 50 percent reduction in NASA’s science funding would severely hinder the United States’ ability to lead in groundbreaking scientific discoveries, such as searching for new life forms in deep space. Notably, NASA and other science agencies play a crucial role in ensuring that Americans lead as the world’s top space scientists, engineers, and technical experts. Ongoing efforts to reduce the federal workforce, combined with these cuts, threaten thousands of highly skilled jobs and may push America’s brightest minds to seek opportunities overseas.” Full letter below.

Keith’s note: that feeling you get when you grew up watching Star Trek – thinking that NASA was the key to that future – and then seeing today’s FY 2026 NASA budget request from the White House and realizing that you’ve been robbed.

Keith’s note: as I predicted several days ago …. Janet Petro’s latest Embrace the Challenge update: “Today, NASA published a technical supplement to the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request released May 2. The supplement includes the Congressional Justifications for our programs and mission areas, as well as my letter to Congress highlighting key points of the budget request. We are currently assessing the priorities and impacts to our teams and programs, and I have asked our leadership team to move forward with discussing their specific areas with you soon. Please take time to review the additional information on the budget documents online at: https://www.nasa.gov/budget. Looking ahead, there’s growing expectation the Senate will take up the nomination of Jared Isaacman to serve as NASA’s next administrator in the near future. While the timing of a vote hasn’t been officially announced, there is a strong sense of momentum. A confirmation would mark a new chapter in leadership at NASA – one rooted in innovation, vision, and a clear passion for exploration. I know many of you are looking forward to what lies ahead. Embrace the Challenge”

Keith’s note: I am hearing that here will be a OMB-issued FY 2026 budget coming out at 3:30 pm EDT on Friday followed by a NASA budget briefing around 5:30 PM EDT. Audio only. Invitation only. They are doing this on a Friday which has the added benefit of missing lots of news deadlines etc. Thus dampening the release of bad news – because you know that is what this is going to be.