Keith’s note: According to a press release “Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Acting Administrator Sean Duffy expressing her serious concern regarding NASA’s relationship with the Department of Defense (DoD).” More below.

Keith’s note: As you ponder protests, policies, and how everyone should respond, re-read this part of the Executive Order that erases NASA’s union rights. It redefines what NASA is – despite whatever wording is in its charter or innumerable authorization and appropriations over the years. It says that NASA is “hereby determined to have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work. It is also hereby determined that Chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, cannot be applied to these agencies and agency subdivisions in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations.” No mention of that science and exploration stuff. Indeed, this pivots NASA closer to Space Force. And it is not to be unexpected that NASA employees may soon see their ability to speak out reigned in as it already is within the Defense and Intelligence agencies. Again, read the words. They are rather precise.

Keith’s note: Oh yes, In addition to erasing NASA’s Union rights, this Executive Order says that NASA is “hereby determined to have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work. It is also hereby determined that Chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, cannot be applied to these agencies and agency subdivisions in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations.” No mention of that science and exploration stuff.

Keith’s note: It looks like the White House is taking a totally different tack on finding a new NASA Administrator. A pivot in a military direction. According to Military.com: “The White House made the unusual move of reaching out Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for advice on who should serve as the next NASA administrator, causing experts to worry about military influence on the civilian space agency. … At a news conference Thursday, President Donald Trump said that “Gen. Caine is going to be picking somebody” for the top role in NASA, which is separate from the Defense Department, and that somebody “will be checking them out.” FYI the current Deputy NASA Administrator nominee Matt Anderson has a long affiliation with military space activities.

Keith’s note: SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative aka “StarWars”) is back – but it is now called “Golden Dome”. It is equally sad, annoying – and weirdly fascinating – to watch all of the older male space fans trying to relive the fantasies of the old SDI days of their youth – once again under-estimating the space-related infrastructure and continued, ever growing, funding that will be required to make it actually work. Meanwhile, their main guy eviscerates, guts, dismembers – pick your word – funding for America’s space agency and the other science-oriented agencies that ally with NASA to make America the leader in space science, exploration, and utilization. This is not going to end well. Every other nation will simply surge ahead of us in space while we are once again distracted and in disarray back on Earth.

Keith’s note: According to this Space Force Association tweet: “Big news from the Space Force Association! We’re thrilled to share that our very own Chief Growth Officer, Col. Matt Anderson, USAF (Ret.), has been nominated to serve as Deputy Administrator of NASA.” Update: NASA PAO issued a statement – 3 hours after everyone else had posted the news on social media.

Keith’s note: I just spoke with Al Mashhad TV about recent discussions at the United Nations between the U.S. and Russia about space weapons. [Audio]

Keith’s note: If only NASA could utilize the same recruitment tools as effectively as Space Force i.e. “Some people look to the stars and ask “what if?”. Our job is to have an answer. … Maybe your purpose on this planet – isn’t on this planet”. The Space Force folks clearly ‘get’ the Star Trek / Star Wars vibe. NASA sometimes gets close to embracing that vide (see above) but then NASA always seems to hold back when they could run with the meme. Why?

Keith’s note: The DNI has posted a NCSC/FBI/USAF Bulletin titled “Safeguarding The U.S. Space Industry” which opens by saying: “According to US financial sector estimates, the global space economy is projected to grow from $469 billion in 2021 to more than $1 trillion by 2030. The United States is the main driver of this growth through its role as a global leader in space investment, research, innovation, and production. Space is fundamental to every aspect of our society, including emergency services, energy, financial services, telecommunications, transportation, and food and agriculture. All rely on space services to operate. Foreign intelligence entities (FIEs) recognize the importance of the commercial space industry to the US economy and national security, including the growing dependence of critical infrastructure on space-based assets. They see US space-related innovation and assets as potential threats as well as valuable opportunities to acquire vital technologies and expertise. FIEs use cyberattacks, strategic investment (including joint ventures and acquisitions), the targeting of key supply chain nodes, and other techniques to gain access to the US space industry.” More

Keith’s note: NASA, DoD, USAF, and Space Force have decided that there’s a “New Space Race” between the U.S. and China. Yes, there’s competition for influence and dominance in space between America and China. But to characterize things as bipolar without considering the true multipolarity of space – all the other spacefaring countries and companies with budgets that exceed many nation’s budgets – is simplistic. Yes, there’s overt competition. There’s also overt collaboration and cooperation. Here’s the report.

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Letter From Congress To USAF Secretary Over Moving U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) From Colorado To Alabama “We write to request that you conduct an urgent and thorough review of the Trump Administration’s decision to move U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama. This move undermines our ability to respond to the threats in space and is disruptive to the current mission. Additionally, significant evidence exists that […]

Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, DNI “The UAP documented in this limited dataset demonstrate an array of aerial behaviors, reinforcing the possibility there are multiple types of UAP requiring different explanations. Our analysis of the data supports the construct that if and when individual UAP incidents are resolved they will fall into one of five potential explanatory categories: airborne clutter, natural atmospheric phenomena, USG or industry developmental programs, foreign adversary […]

GAO: Weapon Systems Annual Assessment Updated Program Oversight Approach Needed – Excerpt: National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Keith’s note: The ULA Vulcan program has contracted with Blue Origin to provide its BE-4 rocket engine. This BE-4 engine is not referred to by name in this report, but it is what is referred to in this report. “A U.S. produced rocket engine under development for ULA’s Vulcan launch vehicle is experiencing […]

Keith’s note: Really? NASA Wallops PAO is giving “exclusive on-pad access” to a launch pad with a classified mission sitting on it and only one media outlet gets this “exclusive on-pad access”? And they are bragging about it? And that’s OK with NASA PAO? The last time I asked NASA HQ PAO about this they told me emphatically that they do not give “exclusives”. WTKR News 3 is not exactly […]

Asked if @POTUS plans to keep/modify @SpaceForceDoD "Wow. #SpaceForce. Its the plane of today! It is an interesting question. I'm happy to check with our Space Force point of contact. I'm not sure who that is but I will find out and see if we have any update on that." Tick tock. https://t.co/seI1UG8Ok7 — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) February 3, 2021 We look forward to the continuing work of Space Force […]

Letter From Colorado Congressional Delegation To President Biden Regarding Relocation Of The U.S. Space Command “We write to request you conduct a thorough review of the Trump Administration’s last-minute decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama and suspend any actions to relocate the headquarters until you complete the review. This move undermines our ability to respond to the threats in space and is disruptive […]

SecAF selects Huntsville, Alabama, as preferred location to host USSPACECOM, US Space Command “The Secretary of the Air Force, on behalf of the Office of Secretary of Defense, selected Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred location for the U.S. Space Command Headquarters. … Albuquerque, New Mexico; Bellevue, Nebraska; Cape Canaveral, Florida; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and San Antonio, Texas, will remain reasonable alternative locations for the U.S. Space Command Headquarters.” […]

Could 2020 be any stranger? The (supposedly) civilian International Space Station is rented out by @NASA to the U.S. #SpaceForce to endorse military activities while one ISS partner (Russia) is simultaneously mounting a massive cyberattack on another ISS partner – the U.S. pic.twitter.com/3RyGlYrRhk — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) December 18, 2020

The sky is not the limit … #SemperSupra!pic.twitter.com/HKlBiAJLBB — Gen. Jay Raymond (@SpaceForceCSO) October 30, 2020 Keith’s note: This is a nicely done video. One small problem: most of it shows military people from the Space Force doing the things that NASA is supposed to be doing – like going to the Moon and Mars – in SLS/Orion hardware. They also a space station-derived interplanetary vehicle with a large centrifuge […]