Federal workers can be fired for refusing vaccination, but must show up to work until their cases are determined, new guidance says, Washington Post “Federal employees can be fired for refusing to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, but as their disciplinary cases wind through the system, they will report to work alongside vaccinated colleagues, according to Biden administration guidance issued this week. The new guidance to implement a vaccine mandate […]

President Biden to Announce New Actions to Get More Americans Vaccinated and Slow the Spread of the Delta Variant, White House “Today, the President will announce that to help protect workers and their communities, every federal government employee and onsite contractor will be asked to attest to their vaccination status. Anyone who does not attest to being fully vaccinated will be required to wear a mask on the job no […]

Once again @SenBillNelson steps in it. I am sure White House is thrilled with his freelancing on this topic a day after @jrpsaki stood in the WH briefing room and said that the Administration is withholding judgement on this issue until the WHO has completed their investigation. https://t.co/blmVIQiybd — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) May 25, 2021

Final Memorandum, COVID-19 Impacts on NASA’s Major Programs and Projects (IG-21-016; A-20-010-00), NASA OIG “A top-line estimate of the cost for these delays and challenges across NASA is estimated to be nearly $3 billion. However, NASA will not be able to quantify the complete impact of the pandemic on its programs and projects until after the COVID-19 emergency has subsided. This memorandum presents a snapshot of the reported estimated impacts […]

Keith’s note: Last night I tweeted a link to this update about mask issues at JSC and Michoud. Shortly thereafter Twitter started to “shadow ban” @NASAWatch i.e. limit the account’s visibility. The only way to get out of this situation is to not tweet from @NASAWatch for a few days – perhaps a week. As such, to prevent this from happening again, I will no longer be able to tweet […]

Keith’s 11 January note: There is a agency wide Town Hall coming up soon. Nothing is online yet and NASA PAO has not responded to my inquiry. Usually when Administrators depart and the White House changes hands there is an agency-wide event with farewell messages, awards given out etc. Stay tuned. Keith’s 12 January update: PAO says that no “public” event is scheduled at this time. Keith’s 14 January update: […]

Trump Administration Releases Science and Technology Accomplishments from First Term, OSTP “RETURNING TO SPACE EXPLORATION: Since reviving the National Space Council, President Trump established a whole-of-government effort to lead again in human space exploration, safeguard the space environment, promote national security, and streamline regulations to foster commercial space activities.” Advancing America’s Global Leadership in Science & Technology – Trump Administration Highlights: 2017-2020 (report) Keith’s note: But wait: while OSTP’s Director […]

COVID-19–The largest isolation study in history: the value of shared learnings from spaceflight analogs, Nature (Open source) “The world is currently experiencing the largest isolation experiment in history. In an attempt to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic numerous countries across the world have been shutting down economies, education, and public life. Governments have mandated strict regulations of quarantine and social distancing in an unprecedented manner. The effects […]

NAS and NAM Presidents Alarmed By Political Interference in Science Amid Pandemic “As advisers to the nation on all matters of science, medicine, and public health, we are compelled to underscore the value of science-based decision-making at all levels of government. Our nation is at a critical time in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic with important decisions ahead of us, especially concerning the efficacy and safety of vaccines. Policymaking […]

NASA Weekly Update from the Administrator – Aug. 31, 2020 “ANNOUNCEMENT: These difficult times can be especially trying for those with children at home or other dependent/caregiver responsibilities. As we head into the fall, and more schools opt to conduct classes virtually, I am pleased to announce that the agency is able to continue offering excused leave through March 2021. Supervisors should approve all requests, to the extent possible, and […]