NASA Watch

Established in 1999, SpaceRef is a new media organization dedicated to the space industry, headquartered in Reston, Virginia. The company operates four online platforms: SpaceRef, SpaceRef Business, NASA Watch, and the Astrobiology Web. Additionally, SpaceRef Interactive Canada Inc., a distinct Canadian entity, oversees the SpaceRef Canada website. SpaceRef is known for its innovative approach to news aggregation while also producing original content. This includes up-to-date news articles, reports on current events, and exclusive editorial pieces.

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Erasing Science From The National Science Foundation

1 week ago | nasawatch.com | Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: The current Administration’s erasure of science across various government agencies is being dialed up. NOAA has been hit. Now NSF is getting whacked. And you should know NASA is not going to escape. According to this AAAS/Science article: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions: “The National Science Foundation (NSF), already battered by White House directives and staff reductions, is plunging into deeper turmoil.
Moving NASA Headquarters Will Fix Nothing

1 week ago | nasawatch.com | Keith Cowing

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.
A Big NASA Moon To Mars Pivot - Next Year?

1 week ago | nasawatch.com | Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: According to “NASA, in surprise shift, may launch rockets to Mars next year” in Politico: “We are evaluating every opportunity, including launch windows in 2026 and 2028, to test technologies that will land humans on Mars,” said NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens. The White House first hinted at the possibility last month in a press release after a meeting between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Donald Trump.
Matt Anderson Nominated To Be Deputy NASA Administrator

1 week ago | nasawatch.com | Keith Cowing

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.”
NASA Leadership Likes The $6 Billion Budget Cut

1 week ago | nasawatch.com | Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: According to this Fox News story “NASA backs Trump budget blueprint with $6B cut to agency“ – “The reductions in the President’s blueprint budget counterintuitively represent an opportunity to truly innovate in how we conduct our space missions,” senior NASA official Ryan Whitley told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.” In other words “Bye Bye $6 billion – we don’t really need you after all” FYI According to Janet Petro on 14 February 2025: “New Senior Advisor...
Goddard Town Hall Was Not A Happy Affair

2 weeks ago | nasawatch.com | Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: There was a Town Hall at Goddard on Monday. Multiple employees have reported that this event was tense. There were security guards posted in the back of the overflow room. According to people who attended the Town Hall, NASA is trying to avoid involuntary RIFs as much as possible but all of this is TBD until the new Administrator shows up to review/approve plans. NASA GISS folks will telework until September until office space in New York City can be found.
Erasing NASA Diversity Abstracts Is Not That Easy

3 weeks ago | nasawatch.com | Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: 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. Try this one from 2022: “Insight’s Diversity and Inclusion Working Group“. Its gone. But the Internet Archive has it here.
Happy Birthday Hubble Space Telescope! Time To Slash Your Budget.

3 weeks ago | nasawatch.com | Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: NASA and ESA are celebrating Hubble’s 35th birthday today. But the next 5 birthdays will be sad. According to space science community sources the pending budget from OMB orders NASA to start shutting Hubble off ASAP with a 20% budget cut in the next year’s budget with a zeroed budget after 5 years (2030). Grant money will evaporate. ACS, WFC3 IR channel, STIS CCD, will be turned off. Instrument scientists, software developers and flight controllers will be laid off. Oh well.
NASA Is Terminating The GISS Lease In Five Weeks

3 weeks ago | nasawatch.com | Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: This was just sent to all NASA Goddard and GISS employees by Makenzie Lystrup: “Dear Colleagues: As you likely know, the administration is currently examining all government leases. As a result, NASA’s lease of Columbia University’s Armstrong Hall in New York City, home to the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, will end effective May 31, 2025.”I am currently in New York – along with Goddard and Earth Science Division leadership – to meet directly with our GISS colleagues.
Erasing Women's Health Studies - In Space?

3 weeks ago | nasawatch.com | Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: According to “NIH cancels its first and largest study centered on women“ in Science magazine: “President Donald Trump’s administration appears to be killing much, if not all, of a historic initiative that was the first, and is still the largest, National Institutes of Health (NIH) effort centered on the health needs of women.” To its credit NASA (often with NIH) has looked at physiology factors that differentially affect female vs male astronauts.