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NASAWatch On Scripps: The Future of Space
NASAWatch On Scripps: The Future of Space

Keith’s Note: I did an interview on Scripps news tonight about the politics of space. Here’s the audio. Funny thing – as they were setting up the piece I heard another guest talking and recognizing the voice I said LEROY! – yup. It was my friend Leroy Chiao. Alas we were stacked guests – one after the other – but they did a “bump” shot before we were on and you can see us smiling away waiting to be interviewed. Next time Leroy.

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  • NASA Watch
  • March 12, 2024
NASA’s Budget Request Sucks – Its Space Exploration Shrinkflation
NASA’s Budget Request Sucks – Its Space Exploration Shrinkflation

Keith’s note: True to form, overt politico Senator Administrator Bill Nelson D-FL said “As history has proven, as the present has shown, and as the future will continue to demonstrate, an investment in NASA is an investment in America for the benefit of humanity,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “President Biden’s budget will fund our nation’s abilities and leadership for the future of space exploration, scientific discovery, cutting-edge technology, climate data, the next generation of aeronautics, and inspiring our future leaders – the Artemis Generation.” This is, of course, nonsense since NASA’s budget overruns/delays on Artemis, Mars Sample Return etc. have already begin to eat up other projects. An insufficient FY 25 budget simply makes things worse. Remember just a few years ago the NASA mantra was “Journey to Mars” in the 2030s. Well, the new variant – NASA “Moon to Mars” thing now only shows the Moon – no Mars – in the 2030s. Negative progress – indeed its space exploration Shrinkflation. Clicking your heels together, crossing your fingers, and whistling “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” ain’t gonna solve anything, Bill. NASA’s plans are royally screwed. And the Artemis Generation will not witness all the happy talk you continue to throw their way. I guess that Moon rock is not in the Oval Office anymore.

Artemis shifts to the right yet again.
Artemis shifts to the right yet again.
  • According to Marcia Smith @SpcPlcyOnline {see chart above} From NASA budget summary, latest Artemis schedule. SpaceX Starship HLS test in 2026, same year as Artemis III landing. Artemis V, first use of Blue Origin’s HLS, now in 2030.
  • According to @Lori_Garver The @POTUS ’25 @NASA budget of $25.38B is ~$2.5B less than projected last year. Along w/ congressional cut of $2.3B for 2024, the agency’s growth trend is now reversed. Absorbing these reductions w/out cancelling major programs will cause delays across the board. Tough choices.
  • The Coalition for Deep Space Exploration put out a statement that only expresses concern about human spaceflight – not all the other things NASA does.
  • In a 7 March Statement the Planetary Society only focuses on space science – and not human spaceflight
  • Here are the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request documents posted by NASA. Read them and weep.
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  • NASA Watch
  • March 11, 2024
Spaceship Endeavour Is In Orbit
Spaceship Endeavour Is In Orbit

Keith’s note: Crew 8 lifted off on time tonight and is now in orbit. They’ll be arriving at the International Space Station on Tuesday. I was on Bloomberg radio twice today and then on BBC World News TV [AUDIO] to provide some pre- and post-launch commentary. One thing that I noticed – and made mention of – are the names of the spacecraft involved. NASA TV’s hosts talked about the Crew Dragon “Endeavour” – which was named after Space Shuttle “Endeavour”. The Apollo 15 command module also named “Endeavour”. But NASA PAO seems to be uninterested in mentioning that these spaceships of exploration had a historic namesake i.e. Capt. James Cook’s H.M.S. Endeavour. Note that NASA kept the English spelling of Cook’s ship in all of the spacecraft named after it. Also, the Crew Dragon already in space and docked to ISS that will bring some of the current occupants home is named “Endurance” after Sir Ernest Shackleton’s famous antarctic exploration ship “Endurance” – which was recently re-discovered on the Antarctic seabed. NASA refers to these crew stays on ISS as “expeditions”. It would be nice if someone in NASA PAO synched up their commentary so as to remind the public about actual historic resonances with ships of exploration – especially as we prepare to return to the Moon – to explore. Just sayin’.

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  • NASA Watch
  • March 3, 2024
NASA Is Not Part Of The OSTP Tech Road Show
NASA Is Not Part Of The OSTP Tech Road Show

Keith’s note: According to this OSTP Fact Sheet: Biden-⁠Harris Administration to Kick off Fourth Investing in America Tour to Highlight How the President Is Delivering for Communities in Every Corner of America: “Throughout the Investing in America tour, President Biden, Vice President Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Cabinet members, and Senior Administration Officials will visit communities across the country where the President is cutting costs for American families, growing our clean energy economy, rebuilding our infrastructure, and creating good-paying jobs along the way. To date, the Administration has now launched over 50,000 infrastructure and clean energy projects and mobilized over $640 billion in private sector clean energy and manufacturing investments.” Alas, NASA is mentioned nowhere in this fact sheet. The fact sheet points to a Brookings Institution report – which also makes no mention of NASA or space. Remember the early days of this Administration when the President pointed out a Moon rock in the oval office? Looks like NASA has lost its mojo. As for the National Space Council – which is supposed to worry about these sort of things – nothing but crickets.

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  • NASA Watch
  • February 16, 2024
An Amazing Interview About The Little Mars Helicopter That Could
An Amazing Interview About The Little Mars Helicopter That Could

Keith’s note: You’ll never hear about this from NASA – but WBUR’s “OnPoint” program just covered the amazing saga of the Mars Ingenuity helicopter [Listen here]. I’ve listened to lots of space coverage – for a very long time – as a young boy and not so young adult. I have to say, “on Point” host Meghna Chakrabarti did a truly masterful interview with the Ingenuity team. Not only did she do her homework in advance, but she took the time to tease out the special little things from the team that made this little project a big success. More below.

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  • NASA Watch
  • February 6, 2024
NASAWatch on Alhurra: NASA’s PACE Mission
NASAWatch on Alhurra: NASA’s PACE Mission

Keith’s note: I was just on Alhurra TV talking about the upcoming launch of the PACE mission and how it can contribute to our understanding of Earth’s climate. I lost the translator audio half way through for about 30 seconds – then it came back. The trick in doing these interviews is to speak and pause periodically so the translator can keep up (I used to be a Sign Language interpreter so I get that) and also to avoid NASA jargon and acronyms (which no one on Earth outside of NASA actually speaks), and present things in every day language for an audience who does not read NASA press releases every day. Here’s the [audio].

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  • NASA Watch
  • February 5, 2024
Pam Melroy: Finding Life Elsewhere In The Universe? “Inevitable”
Pam Melroy: Finding Life Elsewhere In The Universe? “Inevitable”

Keith’s note: On Saturday 27 January 2024, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy appeared on CNN with Christiane Amanpour. A variety of topics such as warfare in space, safety, going to the Moon etc. were discussed but the one topic that got the most air time was Astrobiology – the search for life elsewhere in the universe. Transcript of that portion of the interview plus a link to the entire video.

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  • NASA Watch
  • January 28, 2024
Latest GAO Take On NASA’s Artemis Problems
Latest GAO Take On NASA’s Artemis Problems

Keith’s note: According to GAO: “NASA has made progress demonstrating key capabilities needed to support its Artemis missions. …Despite this progress, NASA still faces several challenges:”

  • Ambitious schedules. In November 2023 (GAO-24-106256), GAO found that the Artemis III lunar landing was unlikely to occur in December 2025, as planned, given delays and remaining technical work. In January 2024, NASA adjusted the launch date to September 2026 to allow contractors time to complete a significant amount of remaining complex work.
  • Artemis III mission cost. In December 2019 (GAO-20-68), GAO found that NASA did not plan to establish an official cost estimate for this mission. NASA concurred with a GAO recommendation to establish one but has not yet done so. While NASA requested $6.8 billion to support Artemis III programs in its fiscal year 2024 budget request, decision-makers have limited knowledge into the full scope of Artemis III mission costs.
  • Acquisition management. NASA’s largest, most complex projects, including those that support the Artemis missions, continue to shape the agency’s portfolio. When these projects exceed their cost baselines and require cost reserves to meet their funding needs, it has a cascading effect on other projects. NASA officials are exploring ways to better manage this project cost and schedule growth.
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  • NASA Watch
  • January 21, 2024
Filling The Empty Cubicles At NASA HQ
Filling The Empty Cubicles At NASA HQ

Keith’s note: There’s a NASA analyst job opening in the NASA Office of Technology, Policy & Strategy. OTPS has an agency-wide, future-leaning role – yet they don’t seem to be at all interested in a serious search for staff. Note the 4 day application window (again) over a weekend. If they were truly interested in getting the best possible applicants – and giving the position opening enough time to circulate widely so as to reach the widest possible pool of potential applicants – and then allow quality people to respond – you have to think that 4 days is rather pointless. People will find out about it after 3 days have already passed – and not enough time remains to seriously consider applying. Unless, of course NASA already has their person for the position hand-picked and they are pretending to be interested in getting applications so as to go through the motions. Its all about checking boxes – not getting quality people. More personnel inbreeding. Just sayin’

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  • NASA Watch
  • January 21, 2024
NASAWatch on TV: Lunar Mission Updates
NASAWatch on TV: Lunar Mission Updates

Keith’s note: Japan successfully landed its SLIM spacecraft on the Moon this morning. However there seems to be a problem with its solar panels which are not charging its batteries. This may have to do with the panels’ orientation to the sun after landing. Unless that can be rectified the spacecraft can only operate for a matter of hours before its batteries are drained. SLIM did deploy its two small rovers and efforts are being made to see if any data has been collected. One of the rovers has responded. I was on CGTN a few minutes ago to talk about SLIM as well as the end of Astrobotic’s Peregrine mission to the Moon which returned to Earth the other day after a propulsion system failure prevented a lunar landing. I was also asked about former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin’s slam against NASA’s Artemis program. [audio]

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  • NASA Watch
  • January 19, 2024