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NASA Prepares To Gut Its Landsat Capabilities
NASA Prepares To Gut Its Landsat Capabilities

Keith’s note: There is a meeting next week regarding Landsat: Sustainable Land Imaging Mission Alternatives Analysis Team Industry. The meeting is looking for the cheapest way to do the least with Landsat as a result of the President’s FY 2026 Budget Request. The PBR seeks to cancel Landsat missions and descope Earth science budgets at NASA. One small problem: NASA is acting as if the PBR is the actual budget contrary to what Congress is doing. Congress has already complained about this as it was described in last month’s NASA Town Hall Meeting. But NASA is going ahead with this anyway. (More below)

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 31, 2025
Spain Wants The Thirty Meter Telescope
Spain Wants The Thirty Meter Telescope

Keith’s note: According to this press release from Spain: Spain is willing to offer up to €400 million to attract the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) to the Canary Islands island of La Palma. — Uh oh. If you are in a ‘Make America Great in Space Again’ mood then this a huge loss for American scientific prestige – an international astronomy instrument leaving the U.S. But wait: according to Science magazine “China is quietly preparing to build a gigantic telescope“.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 26, 2025
NASA Earth Science Division Provides Key Data
NASA Earth Science Division Provides Key Data

Keith’s note: This letter from Earth scientists has also been published in Science magazine and is reprinted here with the permission of the authors [Science, 389, 357-358. doi:10.1126/science.adz6100]: “In May, the US administration proposed budget cuts to NASA, including a more than 50% decrease in funding for the agency’s Earth Science Division (ESD) (1), the mission of which is to gather knowledge about Earth through space-based observation and other tools (2).

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 24, 2025
NASA Chief of Staff Action Items
NASA Chief of Staff Action Items

Keith’s note: according to this Reuters article: “NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes speaking at the same town hall, agreed, saying it would “probably be considered irresponsible” to wait for the congressional budget process. The letter added that Hughes recently ordered NASA science programs targeted for cancellation in Trump’s budget request to stop issuing press releases celebrating new scientific results and achievements.” In addition, senior staff at recent meetings at NASA with Hughes have been told not to expect any help from Congress in pushing back against the plan embodied in the President’s FY 2026 Budget Request i.e. multiple mission cancellations and large personnel layoffs. This is in direct contrast to an offer made last week to senior NASA staff by Acting Interim Administrator Duffy to listen to – and then consider – pushing for budget increases (restoration) for items planned for deletion – if a solid case can be made. And today the “Voyager Declaration”, signed by many NASA employees complaint about a variety of unpopular actions, certainly made national news. Word has it that Hughes and his staff were not at all pleased by this or the news coverage – especially CNN’s article. Meanwhile, consolidation of and deletion of various NASA social media accounts continues. Of course this has a side benefit of allowing those missions now scheduled to go away to not have any mention made of whatever scientific results they are still quite capable of providing. This of course hastens the ability for them to just fade away.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 22, 2025
Bipartisan Congressional Letter: Alarm Over NASA Science Cuts Threatening U.S. Leadership in Space
Bipartisan Congressional Letter: Alarm Over NASA Science Cuts Threatening U.S. Leadership in Space

Keith’s note: According to a press release from Rep. Valerie Foushee: “Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08), and Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) led a group of bipartisan lawmakers in urging National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Acting Administrator Sean Duffy to refrain from taking actions to implement a drastic 47% cut proposed in the President’s FY2026 budget request for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD), encourage or effectuate actions to meet proposed workforce reductions in the FY2026 budget request, or eliminate vital NASA programs until Congress enacts full-year appropriations for FY2026 through September 30th, 2026.” (More below)

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 18, 2025
Upcoming “Save NASA” Protest In Washington, DC
Upcoming “Save NASA” Protest In Washington, DC

Keith’s note: according to a group of concerned citizens: There will be a “Save NASA” protest coming up on Sunday, July 20th.  Our group previously organized the protest in front of NASA Headquarters in DC on June 30th.  We are a peaceful protest group, and we stand in solidarity with other scientific advocacy groups. (More below)

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 18, 2025
House Democrats “Demand NASA Cease Scheme To Illegally Impound FY25 Funds”
House Democrats “Demand NASA Cease Scheme To Illegally Impound FY25 Funds”

Keith’s note: The following was issued by House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Democrats: Yesterday, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC) wrote a letter to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Interim Administrator Sean Duffy warning him of the dire consequences to U.S. leadership in space if the administration illegally impounds congressionally appropriated FY25 funds for NASA. More below

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 17, 2025
But Wait: More Used Satellite Bargains At NASA
But Wait: More Used Satellite Bargains At NASA

Keith’s note: Update on the earlier post Going Out Of Business Sale For JPL Satellites: emails are circulating within JPL and NASA that mention a number of satellites that are listed as being targeted for shut down in the President’s FY 2026 budget request. NASA HQ is apparently not waiting for an actual budget. The list of satellites of the discount rack at NASA now includes OCO-2, OCO-3, SAGE III, CLARREO-Pathfinder, GLIMR, DSCOVR, CYGNSS, Terra, Aqua, Aura, and GeoCarb. Stay tuned for more bargains!

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 16, 2025
Part Time NASA Administrator Update
Part Time NASA Administrator Update

Keith’s note: Apparently Janet Petro did not ‘Embrace The Challenge’ hard enough when it came to getting people at NASA to quit – thus leading to her replacement – even thought the NASA website says she is still in charge. At least that is what senior NASA leadership tells me. Interim (i.e part time) NASA Administrator (and also Secretary of Transportation) Sean Duffy is a 100% Administration loyalist so he can be expected to carry out (or delegate) whatever actions the White House tells NASA to do – without question. Since Duffy already has a day job, this means that NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes is the de facto Administrator. As such NASA is a managerial subsidiary of DOT for the time being. There are plans for Secretary-Administrator Duffy and NASA Deputy Associate Administrator Casey Swails to make some sort of fireside chat video on Friday that will be available to all NASA employees. As such you can expect the budget cutting and personnel deletion to continue at Warp 9.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 16, 2025
Going Out Of Business Sale For JPL Satellites
Going Out Of Business Sale For JPL Satellites

Keith’s note: according to sources at NASA JPL an effort is underway to get rid of their satellite inventory. JPL staff have been directed to start to prepare order and bidding forms for satellites so that they can be ready for sale to the highest bidder. In essence this is a ‘going out of business sale’ for JPL satellites that are supposed to be decommissioned. This sale includes including OCO-2, OCO-3, and payloads on the ISS. JPL is interested in government and private sector buyers. Update: But Wait: More Used Satellite Bargains At NASA

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 15, 2025
NASAWatch On Bloomberg: Budgets, Layoffs, and Sean Duffy
NASAWatch On Bloomberg: Budgets, Layoffs, and Sean Duffy

Keith’s note: I was just on Bloomberg TV/radio/Web. [audio] I was asked if there was an issue with New Interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy having more than one job. I replied that this usually means that you delegate more to your staff. I noted that while Department of Transportation involves a lot of known, commonplace things but that NASA is really all about the whole rocket science thing and that Duffy will really need to lean heavily upon NASA staff. I also noted that the agency is still being run by NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes who is a former Trump campaign guy and a pal of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles – and that having a direct hotline into the White House when you need something is certainly not a bad thing to have. On the other hand Duffy is a staunch Trump loyalist so he’ll be implementing the Presidential Budget Request for NASA for FY 2026 including layoffs and cancellations as if it is a formal plan until directed otherwise by Congressional action on a budget that the President signs off on. Video below – my interview starts at 44:20

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 10, 2025
NASA Appropriations Mark-up  Hearing
NASA Appropriations Mark-up Hearing

Keith’s note: NASA-related things from today’s Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science subcommittee mark-up:

  • Sen. Moran R-KS likes what has been done to NASA’s budget. “Allocation the committee was given shows real increase in spending power of 279M – an increase 0.37% above FY 2025 level. This bill is close to being a normal bill.”
  • Sen. Moran R-KS“Science funding makes minimal cut $60M to NSF 0.67% decrease. The NASA budget mark ($$ not mentioned) reflects an ambitious approach to space exploration and NASA’s flagship program Artemis – rejects premature cancellation of SLS and Orion before commercial replacements are available. Accelerates plans to place Americans on the Lunar surface before the Chinese and then sends astronauts to Mars. Supports Earth science and safeguard Earth from natural disasters.”
  • Sen. Van Hollen D-MD said “for NASA we provided $24.9B slightly above FY 2025. CJS Bill will have NASA at $24.9B and that the agency should focus on solar system exploration, climate change, sustainable aeronautics, and rejected rejected cuts that would have cut 47% of the science budget and led to cancellation of 55 missions. Provides $7.3 billion to NASA Science.”
  • Sen. Durbin D-IL “Houston has a problem – A Space Shuttle has been exhibited at Smithsonian in Chantilly, VA for 12 years. It has had 25 million visitors. One of the states that lost the competition has a new idea: let’s do it over again and make sure Texas wins. They added $85 million to move the shuttle to Texas. That is not what is necessary or what it would cost. NASA and Smithsonian said the cost would be $305 million. Where will Houston get the money to house the shuttle – $178 million would have to be added onto the cost. This will be the first time in history of the Smithsonian that someone has forcibly taken possession of an exhibit. Let’s be honest about this – if you are going use reconciliation funds to move this – its a heist by Texas because they lost the competition 12 years go.”
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  • NASA Watch
  • July 10, 2025
Things Are Suddenly Looking Up For NASA Science
Things Are Suddenly Looking Up For NASA Science

Keith’s note: I will be on “CNN This Morning” at 6:35 am EDT on Thursday to talk about NASA layoffs and whether America is going to cede its space leadership to China. At 9:30 am EDT there will be a full Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Markup which has jurisdiction over NASA, NSF, NOAA, NIST, etc. . According to Politico Pro “when asked Wednesday if a scheduled Senate markup of the White House’s NASA bill would restore science spending, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) replied, “The answer is yes.”

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 9, 2025
What About The Rest of Us Planetary Society?
What About The Rest of Us Planetary Society?

Keith’s note: Kudos to @exploreplanetsPlanetary Society – on what they do WRT FY 2026 budget cuts. But they totally ignore how the rest of us in the space community are impacted – and how we’re responding. They made no mention of:

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 8, 2025
Second Budget Cut Rally At NASA Glenn
Second Budget Cut Rally At NASA Glenn

Keith’s note: according to a press release (more below): “Stand Up for Science, Cleveland Organizes Rally for NASA Glenn on Anniversary of Moon Landing”:

  • Who: Stand Up for Science Cleveland
  • What: Rally to Protest Budget Cuts at NASA Glenn
  • Where: Willard Park in downtown Cleveland
  • When: July 20, 2025, 2-4 PM
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  • NASA Watch
  • July 7, 2025
All Living Former NASA Science AAs Protest FY 2026 Budget Cuts
All Living Former NASA Science AAs Protest FY 2026 Budget Cuts

Keith’s note: the following letter was sent to congressional leaders and signed by every living former NASA Science Associate Administrator: “We are writing in opposition to the Administration’s FY 2026 NASA budget request, which proposes a 47% reduction to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. We request that the Congress preserve U.S. leadership in space science by maintaining funding for the NASA Science Mission Directorate at the FY 2025 enacted level.” More below.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 7, 2025
Congressional Event: A Science Fair of Canceled Grants
Congressional Event: A Science Fair of Canceled Grants

Media advisory: On Tuesday, July 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer (Rayburn Foyer) the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology – Democrats will host an event titled, The Things We’ll Never Know: A Science Fair of Canceled Grants. Over twenty scientists from research institutions across the nation whose grants have been canceled by the Trump administration will be in attendance to present posters to share their story and discuss their now-canceled research grants. This event is open to the public and to the press. Please RSVP to attend (details below).

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 6, 2025
NASA Is Not Waiting For A Budget To Make Big Changes
NASA Is Not Waiting For A Budget To Make Big Changes

Keith’s note: According to White House looks to freeze more agency funds — and expand executive power in Politico: “OMB’s targets include NSF research and education programs that operate using funding leftover from 2024. Also on the list are … more than $100 million in science spending at NASA, which includes climate research.” Meanwhile, internal agency sources report that NASA is already implementing aspects of FY 2026 budget request – now – sometimes using FY 2025 dollars. And they are emboldened in so doing by various Executive Orders from the White House and loyalists on the 9th floor. NASA is acting as if FY 2026 request is the de facto operating plan going forth. Dozens of NASA mission teams are scrambling to complete shutdown plans to make it easier for NASA to start flipping the OFF switch on short notice. The plan is to implement all of the shutdowns etc. effective on 1 October 2025 i.e. as FY 2026 begins – regardless of what the actual status of a real FY 2026 Congressional budget is. By the time there’s a formal budget it will be too late to reverse most – if not all – of these layoffs, shutdowns, and cancellations. Of course, NASA also has RIF plans – but they use euphemisms to say that they don’t. Since not enough people are leaving, something has to give. And don’t count on Congress to come to the agency’s rescue. It’s going to be a long hot summer y’all, so Embrace THAT Challenge.

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  • NASA Watch
  • July 2, 2025