Keith’s note: NASA just issued this press release: “NASA announced plans Friday to compete the next contract for managing and operating the agency’s federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in Southern California at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), to ensure continued accountability and strong value for U.S. taxpayers.” Full text below

Keith’s note: NASA Just issued this: “NASA announced Friday an agencywide realignment to increase mission focus and move out on the National Space Policy. These changes position the agency to better deliver on the nation’s highest‑priority objectives with speed and efficiency.” Full (rather lengthy and specific) announcement below

Keith’s note: the following was sent by NASA Administrator Isaacman to the NASA work force up on the swearing in of Matt Anderson to be NASA Deputy Administrator: “NASA Team, I’m pleased to share that Colonel Matt Anderson, USAF, (Ret.), has officially joined NASA as Deputy Administrator. Matt brings extensive experience across the U.S. Air Force, the commercial space industry, and the Space Force Association, where he worked closely with government, industry, and national security stakeholders to strengthen America’s position in space. Throughout his career, he has built a strong reputation for operational excellence, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the importance of American leadership in the ultimate high ground”. Full text below

Keith’s note: According to this news story the NASA Advisory Council is being disassembled. No mention has been made by NASA if it will continue to exist/function, who will be on it, and what it will/will not do: “NASA officials provided a statement to El Paso Matters that appears to be the agency’s first public comment on its plans for the NASA Advisory Committee. Committee members are not paid for their service.“The NASA Advisory Council is a discretionary committee that reports directly to the NASA administrator. The NAC has an active charter in place through September 2027. The composition of the NAC and the topics it addresses are within the authority and discretion of the administrator. Future membership is under discussion,” the statement said.” Earlier NASA Advisory Council posts.

Keith’s note: according to a press release from the Select Committee on China: “The committee’s report, Research Security for America’s Future in Space: NASA’s Enforcement of the Wolf Amendment, reviewed NASA-supported research collaborations involving entities affiliated with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including several institutions connected to China’s defense industrial base. The report identifies hundreds of NASA-supported or funded publications that potentially violate the Wolf Amendment due to bilateral research collaborations between American and Chinese coauthors and institutions. These findings raise significant concerns regarding the adequacy of historical post-award monitoring, enforcement, institutional disclosure practices, and the agency’s ability to identify potentially prohibited collaborations occurring under NASA-funded research awards.”

Keith’s Note: NASA press release: The United States Senate today voted to confirm Matthew Anderson, Col, USAF, Ret., as the Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Anderson was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and will serve as the 16th Deputy Administrator of the agency.

Keith’s note: there are some blatant truths in this piece “Are we pilots or are we passengers?“ by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. The same growing distrust in Europe with regard to the U.S. and NATO is now expanding into NASA/ESA relations. It’s our own fault folks. This is no way to treat our friends. We can fix this. Just sayin’.

• “Recent changes to the Artemis architecture by the United States signal a rapidly shifting landscape in human space exploration. Decisions to pause Gateway and cancel Mars Sample Return disrupt Europe’s lunar exploration plans, underscoring a broader reality: Europe has become too exposed to decisions beyond its control.“
• “Europe must decide whether it prefers to be dependent on others to send its explorers into space or to assume its role as a fully capable space power. As the head of the European Space Agency (ESA), I am convinced that autonomous human spaceflight is not a luxury. It is a necessary anchor for Europe to secure its freedom to unlock the scientific, economic, strategic and geopolitical benefits of space and to inspire a new generation to shape Europe’s future.”

Keith’s note: America and Canada were inspired a proud of Artemis II. NASA said that -a lot. And its true. The crew visited Congress but NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens only reposts Republican social media on her official account @NASASpox. No Dems. No mention of Canada. Why? C’mon. We’re ALL proud. Oh yes … after the midterm elections NASA may need those Democrats to help out on things. Just sayin’

Keith’s note: The recent firing of the entire National Science Board by the White House is not going down well in Congress. While the immediate impact is on NSF this will result in collateral damage at NASA, NOAA, NIH, NIST, and all other government science activities – just as the Administration says that America needs to dial up its leadership in Science. Both House and Senate members have issued simultaneous rejections of this unwarranted action.

• According to a press release and letter from House Science Committee Democtrats: “House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) led thirty-one Democratic Members in sending a letter to President Donald Trump regarding his legally dubious April 24, 2026, termination of all 22 Members of the National Science Board (NSB). The NSB advises Congress and the President on the activities of the National Science Foundation (NSF), and it has served this function since the creation of NSF in 1950. In their letter, the Members call into question the legal basis of this decision and demand that President Trump reinstate the Board immediately.”
• According to a letter sent by Senate Democrats: “Terminated NSB members have stated that OMB instructed NSF leadership not to share details of the agency’s budget plans with the full board, despite the NSB’s statutorily mandated role in approving NSF’s spending.16 With the NSB now entirely vacated, there is no independent check on OMB’s influence, if not control, over NSF grant-making, strategic direction, and spending priorities. As one former board member warned, NSF could “essentially become a pass-through for implementing things in the domain of sciences and technology that the administration just wants to do.”

Keith’s Note: If you read the NASA press release regarding former NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes’ return to NASA It says “Reporting to NASA Headquarters in Washington, Hughes will have direct responsibility for launch operations at NASA Kennedy, as well as the agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. He will work across government, industry, and local leadership to strengthen coordination among stakeholders supporting NASA’s spaceports, enable increased launch cadence, and support execution of the President’s National Space Policy to ensure continued American leadership in space.” As such, the decades-long management by NASA Goddard of NASA Wallops – a launch facility in Virginia (a blue state) will now be run out of Florida (a red state) – thus continuing the deliberate shrinkage of NASA Goddard. And while NASA HQ is not being moved out of Washington DC, some of its major functions will be moving to Florida. Stay tuned as other aspects of the long-anticipated “Red Wedding“ unfold at NASA. Update: NASA Administrator Isaacman and I had a Twitter exchange about this. Full exchange below.