Democrats Question Musk on NASA Ties

Posted on by onespaceman2000

Timing is everything, and the Democrats opening an investigation into Elon Musk’s role at NASA the same week that the Senate grills the nominee for NASA Administrator smacks as bad timing for all the parties involved.

The ranking members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform are concerned about Mr. Musk having a role in the deconstruction of NASA via the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a letter to NASA’s Chief Legal Officer, the ranking members state:

As of February 2025, Mr. Musk and his companies have received a combined total of at least $38 billion in contracts, loans, subsidies, and tax credits from the federal government and state governments…Mr. Musk continues to profit from taxpayer dollars and now finds himself in charge of determining which federal contracts the government will keep and which will be cut—an arrangement that runs afoul of the law.

The letter also discusses Mr. Musk’s financial relationship with Jared Isaacman (wrongly spelled in the letter cited below), the nominee for NASA Administrator, providing examples such as this one:

Mr. Isaacson’s fortune is tied to Shift4, the payments processing company he controls. In 2021, Shift4 entered into a partnership with Starlink, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Musk’s SpaceX. Shift4 estimated that its partnership with SpaceX will generate $100 billion in Starlink subscription payments.

The letter is worth reviewing even if you believe the Democrats have an ax to grind. Would this type of activity, business relationship, and lack of transparency been allowed under the Biden administration? I don’t believe it would have been tolerated then, nor should it be tolerated now.

The standards in today’s government have fallen through the floor, but it doesn’t have to remain that way. NASA and the American public deserve better.

Note: The same Committee is also launching an investigation into the use of Starlink at federal facilities. A letter from the Committee ranking members to the White House states:

We write to express our deep concerns and request clarification regarding the recent installation of Starlink’s satellite internet service at the White House complex, the General Services Administration (GSA), and potentially other federal government agencies. Given Elon Musk’s dual role as the owner of Starlink and the apparent leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump Administration, the expanded use of Starlink across the federal government raises significant ethical, security, and regulatory implications that warrant immediate attention.

Protect NASA Astrobiology Research

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Artist’s conception of a planetary lineup showing habitable-zone exoplanets with similarities to Earth, featured on the far right. (NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech)

The astrobiology community is looking for individuals to show their support for NASA’s efforts in this area. In a white paper highlighting the benefits of astrobiology research, some of the key points are:

  • Preserve Astrobiology Leadership: Astrobiology is a pillar of NASA’s mission with a storied legacy that must be safeguarded.
  • Unprecedented Discoveries Ahead: Mars, Ocean Worlds, and exoplanet missions in the coming decades could finally answer one of humanity’s most profound questions: “are we alone?
  • Public Passion and Impact: The public passionately supports the search for life – a pursuit that inspires, unites, and advances STEM engagement.
  • NASA’s Unique Role: NASA’s unique capabilities and infrastructure position it as a leader in astrobiology, working in collaboration with U.S. academia and industry to advance this field.
  • Preserve Astrobiology at Its Peak: Astrobiology is thriving; workforce and research funding reductions must not derail our best chance to find life beyond Earth.

At a time of unprecedented threats to NASA’s program and mission, it is important to send a message to Congress and others that we have just begun to understand the universe and its potential for other forms of life, and now is not the time to back away.

The paper notes:

As NASA navigates the administration’s government-wide workforce optimization initiative, it is vital that we do not undermine astrobiology research – a field at the very heart of our agency’s purpose and future. Acting leadership has rightly stated that any reductions must align with mission needs. Few needs are more central to NASA’s science mission than understanding life’s existence beyond Earth.

The same site provides a link to an endorsement page.

I expect this is one of many initiatives to bring attention to the threats facing our space program. It is true that some efficiencies can be found in government with the right level of analysis and careful consideration of existing programs (as has been done in the past), but that is not happening right now with the random and unexplainable cuts.

Upcoming Hearing on NASA Nominee

Posted on by onespaceman2000

The process continues to bring on a new NASA Administrator, even as Elon Musk and his DOGE team do all they can to cripple the agency.

The nomination hearing for Jared Isaacman, announced earlier today by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will take place next Wednesday, April 9, at 10am. The hearing will be streamed live via the Committee’s website as well as YouTube.

The same hearing will also discuss the nomination of Olivia Trusty to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission, so it is not clear how much time will be dedicated to the NASA piece. Generally, the nominee reads from a prepared statement and the Senators who show up that day pepper the nominee with a few questions.

These hearings are usually pretty tame, but that may not be the case if Mr. Isaacman’s ties with Elon Musk become a topic. A recent Wall Street Journal story stated that Mr. Isaacman was hand-picked by Mr. Musk, which followed Mr. Isaacman paying SpaceX an undisclosed amount to go into orbit last year.

It has also been reported that Mr. Isaacman’s own companies may come under scrutiny because of their DEI initiatives, a big no-no with the White House and the ever-destructive DOGE.

Maybe it will be an interesting hearing.

Space Quote: The Cutting Continues at NASA

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: Image by David Yonatan González from Pixabay

“Good work by @NASA this week:
-Eliminated their unused Purchasing Cards (~80%)
-Terminated ~$420M in unneeded contracts, including $45M ($15M each) to three separate consultants, all for “Change Management Support Services””

-Statement on Twitter/X by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The specific “unneeded” contacts being cut beyond the three provided contracts is unclear. What is the chance that any of the cuts will impact SpaceX or other Musk interests? Probably zero at this point. We will need to wait for more transparency once the dust settles.

Space Quote: Hurry Up with that New Administrator

Posted on by onespaceman2000

“The global space race is accelerating, and America faces an urgent challenge in maintaining its leadership in space exploration, technological innovation, and national security – especially in the face of China’s rapidly advancing space program…Jared Isaacman is uniquely qualified to deliver strong leadership that will strengthen NASA’s core programs and ensure the United States remains at the forefront of scientific discovery, space commerce, and exploration.”

-Statement by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and six other governors in a letter to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee regarding the appointment of NASA’s next Administrator. It is likely that the governors see the continuing disruptions at NASA, including the recent elimination of two departments and office of chief scientist, and understand that this destruction will probably continue without permanent leadership at the agency.