On Thursday I flew to space, and what a ride it was! From the hurtling ascent, to the jam-packed 3 minutes of otherworldly microgravity to get our real work done, to the washboard deceleration of entry, and then the steep glide to a greased landing, it was simultaneously thrilling, fulfilling, and enchanting. And, there’s no contest, it was the single best work day I have ever had!

According to NASA PAO: “The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on the passing of former NASA astronaut Rear Adm. (ret.) Thomas K. (TK) Mattingly II. “We lost one of our country’s heroes on Oct. 31. NASA astronaut TK Mattingly was key to the success of our Apollo Program, and his shining personality will ensure he is remembered throughout history.” More

Keith’s note: VSS Unity Galactic05 has dropped from space and has landed back on Earth. Congratulations to new astronauts Alan Stern, Kellie Gerardi, and whoever the 3rd mystery person is. Its is always a fun day when one of your friends becomes an #astronaut But when TWO friends become astronauts – at the same time – its 2×2 as much fun. Fortuna Audentes Juvat — Ad Astra y’all

Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 05 suborbital mission I am flying on, still set for November 2nd, is the fifth commercial suborbital revenue mission for Virgin Galactic. Among myself and the other revenue customers on the flight, we’ve been referring to the mission as “High 5!”. And if it does, I’m pretty sure you’ll see some high 5’s among us on flight day!

Late next week I’ll be undertaking my first spaceflight, flying a training and “risk reduction” mission funded by my employer, the Southwest research Institute (SwRI). This flight is in preparation for a NASA-SwRI suborbital research mission that is coming up for me as well, hopefully next year. That research flight will feature two experiments—one to assess the efficacy of the spacecraft for doing suborbital astronomy, and one to take physiological data on an experimenter undergoing suborbital spaceflight.

Late next week, I’m scheduled to launch aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity on a suborbital spaceflight. I’m not flying as a private astronaut, though, as most VG customers are, but as a researcher, headed to work in space.

Keith’s note: this is circulating on social media from ASE – The Association of Space Explorers. I’ll post more information when I get it (or you send it to me). Ad Astra Bo.

Keith’s note: I was on i24 TV in Israel today to talk about the upcoming Axiom-2 (AX2) mission to the ISS. In a nutshell I think my main point is that what was once monolithic i.e. a large rich country sent its generic employee astronauts into space to do mission X to now where many people go up via many different arrangements to do many different things. And who they are as a person becomes more important – and more interesting – than the fact that they are an “astronaut” in a rocketship. And that is a good thing. Audio. Video clip below.

Keith’s note: According to NASA PAO: “NASA has appointed veteran astronaut Joe Acaba as chief of the Astronaut Office at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. A decorated veteran of multiple spaceflights, as well a former U.S. Marine and former educator, Acaba is the first person of Hispanic heritage selected to lead the office.” In May 2004 Sean O’Keefe (an educator) was NASA Administrator. NASA selected 3 “educator astronauts” including Joe Acaba. Now, NASA’s chief astronaut is an actual teacher. Wow. While Acaba has a big job ahead of him, I am looking forward to seeing how this affects the the way that NASA engages with the Artemis Generation and how they are inspired by the example that Acaba and his team set , “as only NASA can” as “the next generation of space explorers” sets out to achieve their dreams on Earth – or beyond.

Keith’s note: Astronaut Don Lind, selected in the 1966 NASA Group 5 astronaut class, a veteran of STS-51-B mission, who also supported Apollo and Skylab programs, has died at the age of 92. Ad Astra.