This is not a NASA Website. You might learn something. It's YOUR space agency. Get involved. Take it back. Make it work - for YOU.
NASA Has A New Bumper Sticker Elevator Speech Thing
NASA Has A New Bumper Sticker Elevator Speech Thing

Keith’s note: Well you knew it was inevitable. When things get tough at NASA – announce some sort of reinvention or new direction and then come up with a motto, bumper sticker, talking points, and some elevator pitches – all of which are designed to make people think that there’s a new way of doing things that will be better than ever before. Even if it is just the same old nonsense in a new wrapper. This time it is “HQ Reimagined”. Before that there was “OneNASA”, “OpenNASA”, “Faster Better Cheaper”, “Journey to Mars”, “As Only NASA Can” etc. If only NASA could spend time actually implementing these changes and then sticking with them instead of coming up with new buzz words and talking points, maybe things would actually improve.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 26, 2024
An Astrobiology Spinoff?
An Astrobiology Spinoff?

Keith’s note: Although NASA did not sponsor research wherein tardigrade proteins were tested in human cells to see if they work and possibly influence human metabolism – someone did -and it worked. This emerged as the result of prior work into extremophiles. Tardigrades are a favorite extremeohpile amongst astrobiologists. They have even been studied on the International Space Station. Drug companies scour the world – sifting through soils, undersea creatures, and toxic waste dumps for interesting organisms that can provide new industrial processes or biomedical applications. One would hope that the people at NASA who do the whole Spinoffs thing every year would pay attention to things like this. Perhaps a little funding might be worth considering. NASA loves to talk about all the things ISS biomedical research can do for people back on Earth. Who knows maybe the notion of hibernating astronauts on long space missions could benefit. Last week NASA was crowing about the Biden Cancer Moonshot thing. Well, NASA Astrobiology research might also have similar spinoff benefits. But NASA won’t know unless it starts to poke around. Full release.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 26, 2024
Astrobiology Does Not Have To Be Boring, NASA
Astrobiology Does Not Have To Be Boring, NASA

Keith’s note: In the ‘Star Trek Strange New Worlds’ Second Season episode “Under The Cloak of War” there are battle scenes that feature military base with a lot of tents. Those tents were bought by the production company from the manufacturer Heimplanet. By coincidence, astrobiologist, SCUBA explorer, and adventurer Dale Andersen had several of these tents at his base camp at Lake Untersee, Antarctica in 2023. One thing led to another and now Heimplanet has a blog post on Dale’s expedition and their tent referencing my Astrobiology.com website and Star Trek Strange New Worlds. Life imitating art imitating life etc. C’mon NASA SMD, you need to push the envelope a lot further as you tell the world about your various Astrobiology projects. Your outreach is paltry and boring. Full story: That Time Star Trek Tents Were Actually Used In Antarctica.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 26, 2024
Say Howdy To The New Texas Space Commission
Say Howdy To The New Texas Space Commission

Keith’s note: Unfortunately Governor Abbott and his posse are diminishing the rights of many of the current and future space employees in Texas to have control over their own bodies. Not the best way to attract business. Good luck with that Texas Space Commission. it is much the same situation in other space states like Alabama and Florida. Don’t be surprised when people turn down job offers. Just sayin’. Here’s the press release.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 26, 2024
Why Is It So Hard To Figure Out NASA’s Astrobiology Program? (Update)
Why Is It So Hard To Figure Out NASA’s Astrobiology Program? (Update)

Keith’s 26 March 2024 note: 3 months ago I posted a note about the badly maintained Astrobiology program pages at NASA.gov. Among other things it was not clear who was in charge of NASA’s Astrobiology program, NASA SMD’s public-facing webpages seemed to be uninterested in even mentioning the word “astrobiology” much less sending you to places where you could learn about it, and NASA’s own search engine was not at all helpful and downright misleading. Since then couple of personnel-related things have been fixed but otherwise, if you want to understand what NASA is doing in Astrobiology, you should use Google instead. “Searching for life” in the universe is often cited by NASA – and is one of the most provocative things NASA does – with profound implications. Yet the agency seems to go out of its way to make sure all the existing research and potential stays out of date and hidden inside of badly designed and maintained websites. Go figure. Below is my earlier post with comments about the few things that have been fixed.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 26, 2024
George Abbey
George Abbey

Keith’s note: George Abbey has died. It is not an understatement to note that he has left an indelible and enduring mark on NASA and human spaceflight. They only make one of these models once in a generation. Ad Astra George. From the Abbey Family: “Our devoted father, mentor, guidepost, and hero, George W. S. Abbey, passed away last night after an illness. He was 91.”

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 25, 2024
OIG: NASA’s High-End Computing Is Disjointed, Oversubscribed, and Overburdened
OIG: NASA’s High-End Computing Is Disjointed, Oversubscribed, and Overburdened

Keith’s note: According to the NASA OIG Report Audit of NASA’s High-End Computing Capabilities: Despite a history of innovation in HEC, NASA needs a renewed commitment and sustained leadership attention to reinvigorate its HEC efforts. Without key changes, the Agency’s HEC is likely to constrain future mission priorities and goals. NASA’s HEC is not managed as a program or centralized Agency strategic service; instead, resources are managed within the Earth Science Research Program within SMD, and this organizational placement hinders NASA’s HEC efforts. One scientist within that Program is responsible for HEC capabilities at both HEC facilities, in addition to their Earth science responsibilities. This disjointed organization and management of HEC resources exacerbates several issues, including oversight, monitoring, and the foreign national accreditation access process.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 21, 2024
House Hearing On NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
House Hearing On NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
  • Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Hearing – Advancing Scientific Discovery: Assessing the Status of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
  • March 21, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
  • Hearing charter
  • Dr. Nicola Fox, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA
  • Mr. George A. Scott, Acting Inspector General, NASA
  • Dr. Jonathan I. Lunine, Cornell University
  • Mr. A. Thomas Young, Former Director, GSFC and Former President and COO, Martin Marietta
  • Watch live
(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 20, 2024
That Stealthy NASA Cancer Moonshot Event
That Stealthy NASA Cancer Moonshot Event

Keith’s Note: NASA is holding a Cancer Moonshot media thing at 9:30 am EDT on Thursday, 21 March at NASA Headquarters with the Secretary of HHS, the NASA Adminstrator, and some astronauts, to talk about NASA and the White House Cancer Moonshot effort. As a former NASA life scientist and space station payload guy this fascinates me. But I won’t bother to cover it. It is an onsite thing only and will not be broadcast on NASA TV – no mention of the event by NASA TV here or here or or on the SMD science calendar here. HHS has no mention here or here either. And there is zero mention at the Cancer Moonshot website itself. So, at most a handful of people will hear what is said and distilled summaries will appear on a few news websites – maybe. If this is such ‘a big f*#king deal’, as the President likes to say (it is a project for which the Bidens have a strong personal – family – interest), then you’d think that NASA and HHS – and OSTP – would say a teeny tiny bit more about it. Guess again.

If I went to this event I’d be asking these two questions (assuming that NASA PAO actually let me ask a question):

More below

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 19, 2024
Tom Stafford
Tom Stafford

Keith’s Note: Former NASA astronaut Gen. Thomas Stafford has died. Details to follow. Ad Astra. Update from Bill Nelson: “Today General Tom Stafford went to the eternal heavens which he so courageously explored as a Gemini and Apollo astronaut as well as a peacemaker in Apollo Soyuz. Those of us privileged to know him are very sad but grateful we knew a giant.”

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 18, 2024
That Time Wernher von Braun’s Rocket Tried To Kill My Father (Repost)
That Time Wernher von Braun’s Rocket Tried To Kill My Father (Repost)

Keith’s note: As best I can collate the facts, on 18 March 1945, 79 years ago today, a V-2 missile was launched from Statenkwartier in The Hague in occupied Netherlands at 9:25 am by Germany’s Battery 485. My father was almost killed when it struck London a few minutes later. My 50 year career was enabled by that V-2. A direct descendant, a Saturn V, designed by the same V-2 team, placed Americans on the Moon. The other day, yet another direct descendant, the SpaceX Starship, leapt above the sky. I originally wrote this story in 2019 as the Apollo 11 anniversary approached. Humanity now lives in space permanently. Our spacecraft have left the solar system. Our space telescopes look back to the beginning of time. We are spacefarers. Space technology has its roots in weapons of war. America’s early accomplishments in space were achieved with direct use of Nazi technology and personnel. Russia followed a similar path. Today North Korea, Iran, Russia and other nations use rocket designs with a clear lineage originating with Hitler’s V-2. All technology is iterative. Smart technology persists and finds peaceful uses despite its war making origins.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 18, 2024
Starship Launch Coverage
Starship Launch Coverage

Keith’s Note: I was part of Bloomberg radio / video live coverage of the SpaceX IFT3 Starship launch on Thursday morning. Update: Wow. Simply WOW. The booster was lost before engines could be lit to begin a “landing” attempt in the ocean. The Ship 28 itself made it into space but was lost during reentry when both the Starling and TDRSS telemetry feeds stopped simultaneously. But the Pez door opened and the prop transfer commands were issued. More to follow. I’ll be on Deutsche Welle just after noon EDT. Update: Here’s the [audio] I did a CTV interview too [audio]

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 14, 2024
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.

(more…)
  • 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.
(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 11, 2024
Personal Things On Board Odysseus – Resting On The Moon
Personal Things On Board Odysseus – Resting On The Moon

Keith’s note: A few weeks ago a robotic explorer named Odysseus completed a journey – one not unlike its mythological human namesake undertook – and struggled ashore at the south pole of the Moon. While injured and out of sorts for a while, Odysseus managed to accomplish much of what it had been tasked to do – starting with a precision landing in a place no human or droid has ever visited before. The way that Odysseus made it to the lunar surface involved some truly heroic thinking the mission control team – rather fitting for a space droid named after a hero.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 11, 2024
103 Ways To Say Water In Space
103 Ways To Say Water In Space

Keith’s note: I have been living with the image in my mind of the Pioneer plaques and Voyager Golden Records heading across the outer solar system and into interstellar space for half a century. To me, that was the most Carl Sagan – of Carl Sagan – ideas. All these years later – despite its Disco era origins – it transcends time well – which is exactly what you want a message to the inhabitants of another solar system to embody. Well, NASA just did something as cool – and in some ways even cooler. More at An Astrobiology Droid Asks And Answers ‘How Many Ways Can You Say Water’?

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 9, 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’.

(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 3, 2024
Will Mars Sample Return Ever Return A Mars Sample?
Will Mars Sample Return Ever Return A Mars Sample?

Keith’s note: Mars Sample Return, however well-intentioned and lauded by advisory committees, has been tossed around and modified and rescheduled so many times that it is no longer clear what it should do – or if it is even needed. It has always been somewhat gospel that NASA would not send human crews to Mars until a sample return mission had allowed the question of current life to be addressed. The current scenario has a Mars sample return to Earth in 2033 and (one would guess) basic findings a year later. A decade ago NASA talked about sending humans to Mars in the mid 2030s. Now it is the 2040s. Given the increasingly slow pace and out of control costs with which NASA develops human spaceflight capabilities, in order to meet a mid 2040s goal, basic mission design and hardware development needs to happen shortly after the sample comes back to Earth. Add in recent JPL layoffs, private plans by SpaceX et al to simply go there regardless of a sample return mission, and China’s plans to do sample return sooner than the U.S., and the entire NASA Mars Sample Return paradigm has become hopelessly clouded and conflicted. Given incredible advances in nanotechnology and genomics perhaps it is time to consider in situ life detection missions that actually look for life instead of sniffing around the edges. Here is what NASA OIG said the other day:

  • The trajectory of the MSR Program’s life-cycle cost estimate, which has grown from $2.5 to $3 billion in July 2020, to $6.2 billion at KDP-B in September 2022, to an unofficial estimate of $7.4 billion as of June 2023 raises questions about the affordability of the Program. Characteristics intrinsic to big and complex missions like the MSR Program are hard to quantify in estimates but can drive project costs upwards throughout development. These include fully understanding the mission’s complexity, initial over-optimism, a less than optimal design/architecture, and the team’s ability to perform to expectations. When developing its cost and schedule estimate for KDP-C, and as the MSR Program addresses its architecture issues, Program management must consider these intrinsic characteristics and not attribute past cost growth to just the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, or supply chain issues.
  • Additionally, MSR Program formulation is impacted by coordination challenges between NASA and ESA. While communication processes are formally documented and being followed, NASA and ESA are experiencing issues related to schedule transparency, asynchronous design progress, and mass allocation, which appear to stem from differing operational approaches, acquisition strategies, and agency funding mechanisms. The CCRS project team noted that significant progress has been made addressing interface issues between the two entities.
  • The MSR Program recently acknowledged it likely cannot meet the life-cycle cost estimate and launch dates established at KDP-B. A September 2023 report by an Independent Review Board recommended the Program consider modifications to specific mission designs. Accordingly, it is critical that before the MSR Program is approved to proceed from formulation into development, viable alternatives to the Program’s mission architecture are considered—including mission launch and sample return alternatives—as well as the value of the samples returned, the Program’s schedule, life-cycle cost estimate, and the Agency’s historic leadership position in space exploration.
(more…)
  • NASA Watch
  • March 1, 2024