NASA Administrator joins Acorn Growth Companies “Acorn Growth Companies (“Acorn”), a private equity firm investing exclusively in aerospace, defense and intelligence, today announced that Jim Bridenstine, former Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has joined the company as a dedicated full-time Senior Advisor. “Jim’s wealth of knowledge in the space, military, aerospace and engineering sectors will be invaluable to Acorn and its portfolio companies as we continue […]

Keith’s note: I did a 30 minute exit interview with Jim Bridenstine on Tuesday. Here is a verbatim transcript (there may still be a few typos). NASAWATCH: Most people who become NASA Administrator tend to do so at the apex of their career and then dial things back, jump on a few boards, and then retire. Yet you have decades ahead of you. This is unusual. Normally I am talking […]

Keith’s note: Jim Bridenstine has announced that he is leaving NASA. His last day will be 20 January 2021. I really did not know much about Jim Bridenstine when his name started to bubble up as a possible NASA Administrator choice in 2017. Given the chaos and amateurish way the Trump Landing Team (more like a “boarding party”) conducted itself I was predisposed to think that they’d pick a loyalist […]

Keith’s note: A lot of people want Jim Bridenstine to stay at NASA. There’s even a petition online. It should be no surprise to people that I am a fan of Jim Bridenstine – starting with my posts prior to his nomination and confirmation. And I’d like to see him stay in the job. But as Jim notes in these quotes from Irene Klotz, it is preferable for an incoming […]

I’m looking forward to my upcoming virtual discussion with @SpaceForceCSO hosted by @mitchellstudies. On Tuesday at 9:30am ET, watch NASA TV to hear more about areas of collaboration between @NASA & @SpaceForceDoD. More info: https://t.co/u9kO2NVTJe — Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) September 17, 2020 Bridenstine is talking about Eisenhower wanting to separate civil space (NASA) from the military, enabling NASA to become part of U.S. soft power in DIME theory of national […]

Yes they asked this question at a Bible college and the @LibertyU guy could not resist making a dozen #Uranus jokes at @JimBridenstine's expense pic.twitter.com/VIY95kI2JH — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) February 7, 2020 Keith’s note: More tweets below. FYI I stumbled across this in my Facebook feed. NASA did not make any mention of this appearance. Toward the end they played a question and answer game with Jim Bridenstine. Whoever was […]

NASA Authorization Bill Update By NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine “I am concerned that the bill imposes some significant constraints on our approach to lunar exploration. As you know, NASA has successfully fostered the development of a rapidly expanding commercial economy for access to space. We would like to continue building on this success as we develop the most efficient mission architectures and partnership approaches to accomplish our shared goals. NASA […]

Artemis Wins Only Lukewarm Support In Final NASA FY 2020 Appropriation, Space Policy Online “More than half the Artemis-related funding may not be obligated until NASA submits a multi-year plan explaining how it intends to execute that program and development of human lunar landers received far less than requested.” Where Is NASA’s Plan For Sustainable Moon/Mars Exploration? (Update), earlier post “‘[Pence] And I recommend to the public’s attention the public […]

Boeing, NASA clash over push for Congress to fund new stage for moon rocket, Washington Post “In an interview, Bridenstine said that while the upper stage will be a great asset for NASA some day, he said “any plan that requires an EUS to be ready by 2024 is a plan that reduces the probability of success. It’s just not going to be ready. … “All of our contractors lobby […]

Keith’s note: Jim Bridenstine and Doug Loverro attended the Space News award event in Washington today. I asked them about the Moon/Mars plan that the Vice President and the National Space Council asked NASA to deliver in 60 days. Specifically I asked them if it had been delivered and if so could we see it. Bridenstine replied that it had not been delivered as requested and did not indicate when […]