Another year of sequestration would delay NASA missions, USA Today “NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said Thursday that the agency was still assessing the impact of another year of sequestration and its “stifling constraints.” Even holding at fiscal 2013 levels would be problematic because it’s about $850 million less than the president’s request. That would mean deep cuts in space technology, “the seed corn that allows the nation to conduct ever […]

Videoconference providers see uptick in federal demand, Washington Post “NASA, for instance, estimates that it will reduce its travel costs by about $21 million for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. Although not all the savings can be attributed to videoconferencing, “we do look to use that medium to allow our managers, scientists and engineers to be able to still participate in events when being there in person isn’t possible,” […]

Is NASA about jobs, or actually accomplishing something?, Houston Chronicle “The diversity of these centers, including sites in populous states like Texas, California, Florida and Ohio, ensures political clout for the agency in both houses of Congress. At the same time, NASA has to continually spread work around all of these centers and keep senators and representatives from the homes of each of the 10 happy. Which is to say, […]

Obama to take pay cut to draw attention to plight of federal workers facing furloughs, Washington Post “President Obama plans to give up 5 percent of his salary this year to draw attention to the financial sacrifice of more than 1 million federal employees who will be furloughed by automatic spending cuts starting in less than three weeks. … Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he will return a portion of […]

NASA DFRC Award: Production Music Contract “Contract Award Amount: 15528.00 Contractor: UNIVERSAL MUSIC/KILLER TRACKS 2110 COLORADO AVENUE SUITE 110 SANTA MONICA, CA 90404 Classification Code: A — Research and Development NAICS Code: 512110 – Motion Picture and Video Production” Keith’s update: Looks like someone did not get the memos.

American Astronomical Society Decries Impact of Federal Travel Restrictions on Science “The American Astronomical Society (AAS) today expressed deep concern about the U.S. government’s new restrictions on travel and conference attendance for federally funded scientists. Enacted in response to the budget sequestration that went into effect on March 1st, the policies severely limit the ability of many researchers to meet with collaborators and to present their latest results at professional […]

Keith’s note: Last week NASA Education AA Leland Melvin sent a memo out to the Education Coordinating Committee regarding funding issues. In that memo he more or less exempted all of the activities that his directorate funds from cuts associated with sequester-related budget activities. I have asked NASA PAO for a copy of that letter and will post it if/when NASA provides me with a copy. Keith’s 11:00 am update: […]

Repeal the sequester’s cuts on NASA’s spending in public outreach and its STEM programs “Repeal the sequester’s cuts on NASA’s spending in public outreach and its STEM programs The Sequester’s recent cuts on NASA’s spending in public outreach and its STEM programs must not be allowed. These cuts would end the many programs NASA has for educating the children of our society, as well as many other forms of public […]

Bolden Keynote At AAS Wednesday Morning Will Be Livestreamed, Space Policy Online “NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden will keynote the American Astronautical Society’s Goddard Memorial Symposium tomorrow morning, Wednesday, March 20, and AAS will stream the event live.” NASA Limits Travel; No Layoff Plans – yet (update), earlier post “v. Examples – For example, the following conferences do NOT meet the new criteria and NASA funded participation will not be allowed: […]

NASA SMD Memo: LPSC Travel Confusion Under The Sequester “Recent guidance has come from the Administration that needs interpretation relative to supporting travel for all NASA activities. These rules will go into effect on March 19, 2013. We are in the process of executing all elements of the guidance and will notify those that are affected. For instance, we have worked with all the NASA Centers and JPL employees and […]