NASA Leadership Positions Agency for Future, 21 September 2021 “NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Tuesday the agency is creating two new mission directorates that will best position the agency for the next 20 years. The move separates the agency’s current Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate into the new Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) and Space Operations Mission Directorate. NASA is making the changes because of increasing space operations […]

Keith’s Note: NASA’s current slogan is “Forward To The Moon”. They say this because they do not want to say “Back To The Moon” Isn’t about time for NASA to speak boldly about what it plans to do?

Obama nixes federal swag, Politico “On Wednesday, Obama signed an executive order that will direct government agencies to, among other things, “stop using taxpayer dollars to buy swag.” What exactly falls under the category of “swag”? Plaques, “nonessential items used for promotional purposes” like clothing, pens and mugs, and “other unnecessary promotional items that agencies purchase,” according to the White House, which did not respond to multiple requests for more […]

Keith’s note: I have posted questions for Beth Beck at HEOMD, sent email requests, and yet no one has responded. Based on previous dysfunctional interactions with HEOMD (SOMD and ESMD) I have to conclude that my requests are being ignored – on purpose. Yawn. Oh well, this is not exactly a new behavior on NASA’s part. So much for the openness and transparency policies established by the White House that […]

Keith’s note: Several months ago Assistant Associate Administrator for the International Space Station Mark Uhran had been telling people that he was going to leave NASA on or around 1 October. Those plans have apparently changed. Former Deputy Associate Administrator for NASA Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Laurie Leshin’s departure led to a change in the new HEOMD management structure (due to the fusion of ESMD and SOMD) and Uhran is […]

NASA Internal Memo: Farewell Note from Doug Cooke “This is my last day at NASA and writing to you is one of my final acts here. In looking back on my career at NASA that began in September of 1973, I have many great memories of working on Space Shuttle, Space Station, and Exploration. The memories are also of many great people like you that I have had the opportunity […]

NASA’S Exploration Associate Administrator Doug Cooke To Retire “Doug Cooke, who worked for nearly 38 years in NASA’s space shuttle, International Space Station and exploration systems programs, will retire from the agency effective Oct. 3. Cooke most recently served as NASA’s associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD), which is responsible for developing capabilities for sending humans deeper into space. Before retiring, Cooke will serve as deputy associate […]

Keith’s note: SOMD AA Bill Gerstenmaier made a presentation to the 16 June Space Council meeting. The last slide (larger image) from his presentation (the rest of it is just pretty pictures) titled “Capability Driven Exploration” offers some insight into where a combined SOMD/ESMD exploration plan might be headed. Alas, this chart (and the path it suggests) is “notional” – like just about everything NASA says about its future plans […]

NASA Announces Milestone For Future Human Spaceflight “NASA will host a media teleconference at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 24, to discuss an agency decision that will define the next transportation system to carry humans into deep space. Douglas Cooke, associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington, will take reporters’ questions during the teleconference.”

NASA commitment to Senate wishes questioned, Space.com/MSNBC “Nelson had no luck getting NASA officials to pin down the date by which the agency could begin testing Orion atop the core elements of the congressionally mandated rocket. “I want to know how soon you can get testing the initial heavy-lift capability with the proposed funding levels,” Nelson told Doug Cooke, NASA associate administrator for exploration systems. Cooke demurred, citing ongoing studies, […]