Keith’s note: According to “CBS News poll: Most Americans favor U.S. returning to moon, going to Mars“: “There is a lot of public favor for the idea of the U.S. returning to the moon, and also for eventually going to Mars. About two-thirds do, while a third does not. Younger Americans who are not old enough to remember the first moon landing are especially in favor, perhaps looking forward to seeing that exploration in their lifetimes. These views generally cut across ideological and party lines, as well.”

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: According to “The first rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down“ in The Washington Post:

• “Within the Interior Department, top officials are telling U.S. Geological Survey center directors not to put the words “reduction in force” or “RIF” – both terms for federal layoffs – in memos or emails, according to an employee there. At the Education Department, political appointees are scrambling to move staff around to make up for resignations and firings, but refusing to issue reassignments in writing, said a former staffer there.”

• “At one NASA center on the West Coast, staff no longer have conversations at their cubicles, an employee said: Any chats happen inside an office, with the door closed, and most people prefer to talk outside on the lawn, escaping the building entirely. “Nothing is written down,” the employee said. “Nothing.”

Keith’s note: I witnessed some utterly insane, idiotic, and foolish nonsense at NASA today – some in full view – a lot of it behind the scenes. Time to get back to the book I am reading – “No Picnic on Mt Kenya” which is about 3 Italian soldiers who broke out of a British POW camp during WWII in Africa to climb Mt Kenya – because why not – and then they went back to the camp. Crazy is my north star right now. Oh yes: Readers from 1996 era NASA RIF Watch may remember this image. This is what happens when you take out too many vital parts of a space thing. Or a space agency.

Keith’s note: Up until last year NASA always made mention of Juneteenth and what it represents to NASA and to our nation. Not any more. Why is that Janet?

Keith’s note: NASA is consolidating social media accounts (yes this was needed). The FY 2026 NASA Budget Request from the White House eliminates STEM funding, removes all public affairs staff at the field centers, cuts NASA HQ PAO staff, and reduces the overall communications and outreach budgets. And of course diversity, equity, and inclusion is now a forbidden concept. So where is the plan that NASA is following in order to do all of this? Is there a plan for this at NASA? Or does NASA just have a concept of a plan? One would assume that all of these dramatic changes to the public face of NASA are being done according to some overall guidance – yes? What follows are some random questions off the top of my head about the effective education and public outreach and engagement plan that the world’s pre-eminent space agency would need in order to continue to lead the way – and also expand that lead. Or maybe they don’t actually care to have a plan. Or know how. (More below)

Keith’s note: according to “What government programs should be slashed? NASA nears top of list, poll finds“ in the Miami Herald: “In the latest Marquette Law School Poll, 63% of respondents said they would be willing to reduce spending on NASA and its space program to shrink the federal budget deficit. Meanwhile, just 37% said they would not be willing to cut it. And just 5% said sending astronauts to Mars or back to the moon is a major priority, while 39% said this is important, but not a top concern. A majority, 56%, said it should not be a priority at all.” (deep sigh) NASA has touched the sun, visited every planet in our solar system, has spaceships traversing interstellar space, and has telescopes that look back toward the dawn of the universe – yet NASA Public Affairs and other communications and outreach efforts at the agency consistently fail to convey these awesome, exciting accomplishments to the public. Only NASA could make America’s unparalleled accomplishments in space exploration so boring that such a large portion of the public wants to cut space funding. Ad Astra y’all.

Keith’s note: a week ago I posted Erasing NASA Diversity Abstracts Is Not That Easy saying “The NASA DEI Erasure Squad has been busy. If you search for past LPSC abstracts on DEI, DEIA, diversity etc. you’ll see that they have disappeared and prior meeting agendas have been altered.” Well they have been busy and huge amounts of material are simply vanishing. USRA did this stealthily until too many people started to notice – only then did they have the notion that they should say something using some classic Orwellian Double Speak. (More below)

Keith’s note: according to a post by AIP “Republican-led States Angle for NASA Headquarters“ “Lawmakers in support of relocation across Texas, Florida, and Ohio all say that moving NASA’s headquarters out of DC would lower agency operating costs, save taxpayers money, improve efficiency, and provide a boost to their local economies. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) claims that relocation would save the agency “about a billion dollars.” When all is said and done in terms of moving costs, hiring new people to replace those who did not want to move, moving contractor support, etc. Costs at every one of the remaining centers that did not get any goodies would simply stay exactly the same. I sincerely doubt a billion dollars would be saved. And now all the coordination that might have happened in one building is spread out across thousands of miles inside the politically protected fortesses of a dozen field centers. In the end all you would do is move inter-center food fights to new zip codes. NASA HQ doesn’t need a new phone book or a new address NASA NEEDS A STRATEGIC PLAN WITH A RELIABLE AND REALISTIC BUDGET. Sorry for yelling.

Keith’s note: I give up. When female space youtubers like Eliana Sheriff @esherifftv go out of their way to mock a mission with women going into space – comparing them to chimpanzees – why should the rest of us even bother trying to knock down all the space misogyny. Here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-B_ISPE3mc

Keith’s note: Yesterday 6 people on the Blue Origin NS-31 flight crossed the Kármán line and entered “space”. More people – some of prominence – now speak of the value of – and the awe encountered in – space. Alas, lots of space folks on social media say that they’re not “astronauts”. I wonder how many space fans would change their mind if they had a chance to do the same thing. Just sayin’. FWIW soon-to-be NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (an astronaut) said this from a more lofty perspective:

Keith’s note: This essay “The Only Thing Abandoned is the Truth – Preserving NASA’s Legacy Amidst a Vortex of Misinformation” was written by former NASA employee Amiko Kelly. As another former NASA employee it certain resonates with me. “I know what [NASA] stands for. I see what it inspires. Working for NASA wasn’t just a dream—it was a calling. I worked hard to get my foot in the door and even harder once there. Like many who have devoted their lives to space exploration, I’ve watched with heartbreak as misinformation chips away at the trust and admiration NASA earned. NASA was once among the most respected government agencies, symbolizing human achievement and possibility. But today, conspiracy theories, climate denial, and political distortions diminish decades of groundbreaking work.”

Keith’s note: You folks probably already know this but it bears repeating: more bad news is arriving. NASA managers have to implement orders from the White House and these orders suck big time. No deviation is allowed. These NASA managers are worried sick about this and are trying to protect y’all. But sooner or later it will come to them refusing to carry out orders – and they will be gone too. Speaking as a former NASA employee myself – a child of the Apollo era – the worst outcome would be for all of you – all of us – to forget why we wanted to work for NASA and why it is voted the most popular place in government to work year after year. Y’all made it that special place. No other agency is charted to explore the universe. Not even close. And the people who accept that challenge are what made America the leader in space exploration. You have touched the sun, visited every planet, and now sail across interstellar space. Never forget that. Ad Astra – Keith

Keith’s note: I just had a strange exchange with another space-related media outlet. A rather nice, talented person. I am supposed to be retired. Indeed I was going to turn NASAWatch off this Spring since I am simply tired of doing this thankless task after 30 years. Then the current RIF disaster at NASA unfolded and – well – deja vu allover again – I guess there is still a need. I run this thing 100% out of my own pocket on a fixed income. Again, I am RETIRED. Yet this other publication wanted me to dig up and share sources with them so they can write stories (and make money). I will keep doing this as long as I get thank-you comments from y’all. But I’d much rather be climbing in the mountains with long-suffering Mrs. NASAWatch and writing my apolitical Astrobiology book. I am simply trying to help. Help me do that – but please don’t try and take undue advantage of that interest. FWIW this is increasingly where my mind is at – and I go there in my mind every day now to escape the gathering storm: “My Star Trek Episode at Everest ” – from 2009. Ad Astra y’all.

by Mark V. Sykes, Ph.D., J.D. – CEO and Director, Planetary Science Institute

To the American Public and Government Officials:

I would like to share a positive perspective of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility from the context of a science institute. At a time when these principles are being purged by our government from a large swath of federal programs, you should know they actually advance science, thereby advancing the interests of our country, and are important for the workplace. In the course of this, I would also like to take this opportunity to show you that scientists share much of your experiences and backgrounds as people, and something about the process of science itself.

Keith’s note: a large group of space scientists have put together a group letter that has large number of signatories: “To NASA leadership and our elected representatives: We write as members of the space science community who are dismayed by the impact of recent events on taxpayer-funded, NASA-supported science, missions, and communities. Many of us chose this profession motivated by a desire to push the boundaries of what is possible and widen our understanding of the universe, and to do so in the public interest. Space science research has inspired generations of scientists and engineers, while pushing U.S. innovation forward. … Recent events and actions directly damage our ability to do the work we value. We wish to call attention to several occurrences that have unfolded over the past weeks. … We also recognize that even in times of upheaval, all of us have the power to stand up for our values, for each other, and for the work we believe in. We hope you will join us in advocating for broadening access to publicly funded science, empowering NASA-funded projects to recruit strong, diverse teams, and building a future in which scientific progress truly benefits all of us. The American people deserve nothing less.” Full letter

Keith’s note: Sources at NASA Headquarters report that pride symbols are no longer allowed. Employees cannot have pride flags, lapel pins, badge lanyard, TEAMS backgrounds, clothing, laptop stickers – or anything related to pride in their offices. This guidance is NOT being put in written form (like everything else has been) but is rather communicated verbally from the 9th floor to all management for them to inform/warn their staff. The penalty for violating this guidance can result in being put on administrative leave. This applies to all employees – not just LBGTQ+ but also LBGTQ+ allies.

Keith’s note: This was sent out to NASA employees. Note the way that Janet Petro signed this – with a standard “Embrace the Challenge.” closing. This was not on her earlier DEI memo. Just sayin’. Full text below.

Keith’s note: Some people are feeling rather big right now. Others feel rather small. Let’s recalibrate. Wherever you are on the political spectrum just put all of that aside for a moment. We can all rise above this nonsense if we want to. America’s spacecraft have touched the sun and travel across interstellar space. Our reach has always exceeded our grasp. May it always be so. Ad Astra