Keith’s update: I just had a chat with GSFC management. In a nutshell this pandemic and telework has gone on longer than anyone expected and it will go on for quite some time – well into 2021. As such, people and policies need to constantly adapt to an uncertain and ever changing future. You can expect some clarification from GSFC management soon including a request from the GSFC workforce for […]

Keith’s 5:12 pm update: This is the response that NASA GSFC News Chief Dewayne Washington sent me: “We truly appreciate the innovative spirit displayed and sought to highlight the employee and her accomplishments. Upon further review, however, we don’t have the ability to distribute lab equipment to all those who may request it or to validate the safety of uniquely-configured home lab workspaces. Moving forward, lab/technical equipment will remain on […]

Keith’s note: If you go to the NASA GSFC website you will see this release “Laser Precision: NASA Flights, Satellite Align Over Sea Ice“. In the release you will see this at the bottom: “For more information, visit: nasa.gov/icesat-2 or icesat-2.gsfc.nasa.gov”. There’s no HMTL for the links on this webpage thus making it more difficult for people to follow the non-existent links. If you go to nasa.gov/icesat-2 you get the […]

NASA Administrator Names Acting Director for Goddard Space Flight Center “NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has named George Morrow to serve as acting director of the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, effective Thursday, Aug. 1. Morrow will replace Chris Scolese, who is departing NASA to be the director of the National Reconnaissance Office.”

NASA OIG Audit: NASA’s Technology Transfer Process “Goddard, however, is experiencing poor technology transfer performance outcomes when compared to the other three NASA Centers we reviewed, to include a lower percentage of licenses as well as delays in processing of NTRs and patent applications. We found Goddard’s technology transfer process was hindered by a lack of adequate controls and poor collaboration between its Technology Transfer Office and the Office of […]

Potential Reduction At Wallops Flight Facility, WBOC “Goddard Space Flight Center said they are evaluating opportunities to streamline and improve the relationship between the center’s in Greenbelt, Maryland and Wallops Island. Goddard told WBOC today in a statement, “The importance of a synergistic relationship between the two campuses is vital to the future of each campus and Goddard Space Flight Center as a whole.” Bale is disappointed that Goddard is […]

Keith’s note: On Wednesday NASA will officially sponsor a teleconference with NASA NIAC grantee Phil Lubin about the Breakthrough Initative’s Starshot project to mount the first interstellar mission. But unless you are a pal of a certain NASA civil servant, you won’t be allowed to listen in live – even though NASA is paying for this event. Indeed, unless this certain employee decides to tell you, NASA won’t even tell […]

Loss of Contact with STEREO Behind “Communications with the STEREO Behind spacecraft were interrupted on October 1, 2014 immediately after a planned reset of the spacecraft performed as part of a test of solar conjunction operations. There have been no successful communications since then, though attempts to recover the spacecraft continue. Here we explain the events that led up to the loss in communications, and the activities that have been […]

STEREO Behind Spacecraft Experiencing Communication Problems (Updated with NASA Comments) “Communications with the STEREO Behind spacecraft were interrupted on October 1, immediately after a planned reset of the spacecraft performed as part of a test of solar conjunction operations. The cause of the anomaly is not yet known, though a sensor anomaly in the guidance and control system is suspected. Attempts to recover the spacecraft are continuing.”

A Minimal Model for Human and Nature Interaction, 2012, (PDF) as submitted. Keith’s 20 March update: (The University of Maryland has pulled this 2012 paper offline – summary/excerpts below). This is apparently the newer 2014 paper – submitted on 18 March – on the same topic – with a nearly identical summary: “Human and Nature Dynamics (HANDY): Modeling Inequality and Use of Resources in the Collapse or Sustainability of Societies”. […]