Keith’s note: “An Investigative Report on the Funding of NASA Planetary Research and Analysis Programs, FY2011-FY2025“ has been released. “Detailed budget information obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, Presidential […]
Astrobiology
Posted inExploration
NASA Hides Cool Exploration Stuff
Keith’s note: this is baffling: NASA comes up with cool outreach like this in one place, yet the rest of NASA ignores it. Exploration = exploration. A rising tide lifts […]
Posted inAstrobiology
That Time We Searched For Life On Mars
“To mark the 50th anniversary of NASAâs Viking landings, the journal Astrobiology has published a dedicated special collection revisiting the mission that first and last attempted to directly measure cellular […]
Posted inExploration
JPLers Fix VGER Out Among The Stars
Keith’s note: according to NASA JPL: “Engineers at NASAâs Jet Propulsion Laboratory have successfully freed up power on Voyager 2, extending how long the spacecraft can continue to do science. […]
![Responses to questions regarding the impact on ECRs being impacted by government funding delays, and responses broken down by career level. Every group indicated > 50% of being impacted (PhD student 64%, Postdoc 76%, Junior Faculty 71%, Junior scientist 100%, and Other 62%) -- [astro-ph.IM]](https://i0.wp.com/nasawatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Early.png?resize=1200%2C506&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrobiology
Budget Cut Impact On The Early Career Astrobiology Workforce
Keith’s note: according to a recent survey of the Early Career Astrobiology Workforce [ECR], “Results indicated that a majority of surveyed ECRs are concerned about their future careers (90 percent). […]
Posted inExploration
Ocean Planet Explorer Resumes Operations
Keith’s note: The human-occupied submersible Alvin has been officially certified to return to service by WHOI following recent overhaul and testing. Submersibles and oceanic exploration have a long history of […]
Posted inAstrobiology
That Private Astrobiology Mission NASA Ignores
Keith’s note: Last week NASA announced a Public-Private Partnership to Advance Mars Science. Some of that was already happening. Rocket Lab is going to send the privately-funded Venus Life Finder […]
Posted inAstrobiology
How To Actually Build Your Own Working Tricorder
Keith’s note: Hamzah Abugosh has built a functional tricorder. I share the same fascination he has with the notion of a tricorder as seen on Star Trek since I was […]
Posted inSpace & Planetary Science
Astrobiology.com Website Upgrade Underway
Keith’s note: Over the next several weeks we will be rolling out a revised and enhanced version of Astrobiology.com. It will take us a bit to wrap our minds around […]
Posted inAstrobiology, Budget, Congress, News, Space & Planetary Science, TrumpSpace
MEPAG Memo On NASA Mars Exploration Program Budget
Keith’s note: the following memo was distributed by NASA Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) leadership: “Members of the MEPAG community, There have been deeply concerning developments in the NASA […]