Keith’s note: On 1 July 2025 Mark Sykes, Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, published an op ed titled “Taking Action Against Historical Censorship by USRA” which I reprinted here on NASAWatch. UPDATE: Mark Sykes has posted a response to USRA’s critique of his original OpEd.

• USRA has responded: “Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, misrepresents USRA’s actions in response to the Administration’s directives on DEI-related matters. His article contains numerous inaccuracies and hyperbole that distort the facts surrounding USRA’s removal of DEI content”. Full document: USRA Response to the Editorial Titled “Taking Action Against Historical Censorship by USRA”.
• I got a call last week from USRA’s Senior VP Bernie Seery asking if I’d post the USRA response to Sykes editorial. I said yes and Seery agreed to send it to me by email. I never got it.
• Also, to be transparent, I told Seery that actions by USRA with regard to LPI and LPSC to edit and censor history by regarding links to items and the items themselves from its websites walks right up to the line of blatant complicity with regard to the erasure of items having to do with equality, diversity, and inclusion within the space science community writ large.
• Also with regard to Sykes’ call for an independent replacement for LPSC in 2026, I agree that it is warranted given USRA’s actions. And NASA has cut funding for it any way. Revisionist history slows science – it does not advance it.
• Erasing NASA Diversity Abstracts Is Not That Easy, earlier post
• LPI DEI Censorship Memo From USRA/LPI, earlier post
• USRA’s Non-Deletion Deletion of LPI Website Material, earlier post

Keith’s note: This was written and originally posted here by Mark V. Sykes, Ph.D., J.D. Senior Scientist, Planetary Science Institute: “This statement is my opinion and does not reflect an official position of the Planetary Science Institute.: Institutions are reeling from the spray of executive orders from the White House since late January. Activities in support of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) have been particular targets, with the cancellation of large numbers of research and other grants and contracts and the bizarre purging of material from government websites (including, for a time, information about the airplane that dropped the first atomic bomb, the Enola Gay). (More below)

Keith’s note: I just got this from USRA/LPI: “Dear Colleagues, We have heard from many of you and understand that there is significant concern among the planetary science community regarding the removal of DEI content from USRA/LPI websites. Please know that we did not make that decision lightly. We were doing our best to comply with our understanding of the Administration’s directives (specifically, Executive Order 14173) and the deadline it set for compliance.”

Hope to see #aas223 attendees at 7pm for an opening hosted by USRA. Potomac A, B: opposite registration. pic.twitter.com/uUTHuKwqnq — USRA (@USRAedu) January 5, 2014 Keith’s note: At a time when NASA science budgets are being slashed, I find it to be a little odd that USRA, a non-profit that could simply not exist without a constant influx of NASA funds (and the overhead that they charge on those funds) […]

NASA Collaborates with Google and USRA for Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab, SpaceRef “Quantum computing may be the key to solving some of the most challenging computer science problems. This is why Google in collaboration with NASA and the Universities Space Research Association today announced that they will launch the Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab.”