Additional Comments by the NASA Nominee

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: Hanna-Barbera Productions

According to a story in Chron, a few years back the current nominee for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, made the following statement:

I truly want us to live in a world 50 or 100 years from now where people are jumping in their rockets like the Jetsons and there are families bouncing around on the moon with their kid in a spacesuit.

Given the difficulty was are having getting back to the moon 50 years after we dropped such travel, his time frame and expectations may be a little ambitious. I would be happy to have a few astronauts on the surface and the beginning of some type of rudimentary lunar station within 10 years, but something like The Jetsons in the near future or even 50 years out does not seem to be likely.

We heard stories about The Jetsons and flying cars long ago. Though some of the ideas in the television series were workable, if we cannot get to everyday flying cars just yet, I think everyday rockets to the Moon with the whole family are even further away.

Somehow he watched The Jetsons in his youth but seemed to miss Space: 1999 and even the original Lost in Space.

I expect his discussions with NASA will be pretty eye-opening and may temper his expectations.

We need to nail down the basics again before we issue travel posters to the Moon.

Space Quote: SLS or Bust

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): NASA Administrator Bill Nelson discussing the Artemis program at a press conference last week. (NASA)

“Are they going to axe Artemis and insert the Starship? First of all, there is one human-rated spacecraft that is flying and has already flown beyond the moon, farther than any other human-rated spacecraft, and that’s the SLS combined with Orion.”

-Statement by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at the agency’s press conference last week at the NASA Artemis Campaign Leadership News Conference. He was making reference to the SpaceX Starship replacing the Space Launch System (SLS) in the Artemis program. It was a solid answer to a question that many may have these days.

Nominee Jared Isaacman’s Statement

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

This is what Mr. Isaacman posted on Twitter/X after being nominated to be the next administrator of NASA:

I am honored to receive President Trump’s…nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.

On my last mission to space, my crew and I traveled farther from Earth than anyone in over half a century. I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun. Space holds unparalleled potential for breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and perhaps even pathways to new sources of energy. There will inevitably be a thriving space economy—one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space. At NASA, we will passionately pursue these possibilities and usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization.

I was born after the Moon landings; my children were born after the final space shuttle launch. With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place. We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.

It is the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role and to work alongside NASA’s extraordinary team to realize our shared dreams of exploration and discovery.

Grateful to serve,

Jared

I find it interesting that his first mention of space accomplishments was his own private flight into orbit rather than the amazing things NASA has already accomplished and plans to do. He also seems to think his space venture brought on the second space age, maybe unaware that the movement towards commercial partnerships started with the Obama administration.

And the statement “Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars” should probably be “Americans will walk on the Moon again and Mars as well.” He admitted that he missed the Moon landing and his kids missed the space shuttle, but let’s treat them like milestones rather than missed opportunities.

I am skeptical that this will be good for NASA, but maybe having a buddy running the agency will give Mr. Musk second thoughts about stripping it down for parts like a Jawa sandcrawler.

Maybe.

Pic of the Week: The Best of 2024

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Odysseus Leaves Earth. (Intuitive Machines)

This week’s image is the best space exploration image winner in The Planetary Society’s Best of 2024 contest. It shows the Odysseus lunar lander, launched on February 15, leaving the Earth behind as it travels to the Moon. You can read more about the lunar mission to the lunar South Pole by visiting this NASA mission page.

Visit The Planetary Society for more on the Best of 2024 winners, including the most exciting upcoming planetary science mission. I won’t spoil the news. You can read about it yourself.

Podcast: Neil deGrasse Tyson in the Hot Seat

Posted on by onespaceman2000

Last week’s Real Time with Bill Maher included an interview with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, which did not go very well given the line of questioning. Mr. Maher was trying to entrap Dr. Tyson into some anti-woke politics, but he did not play along.

With all the topics Dr. Tyson could address on the show, it was a waste of time for viewers to witness this ambush. Mr. Maher continues to forget that he is a comedian and his guests come onto the show to have some fun. You can listen to the mess here.

Fortunately, the Overtime show after the main show, which focuses on questions from the audience, finally addressed some space-related questions, including one about Mr. Musk’s plans to go to Mars. Dr. Tyson said the costs, risks, and return on investment do not currently justify such a mission. However, he pointed out that once it becomes a space race with China then it may be something worth pursuing.

It was an interesting answer, and yet it seemed to ignore that we already have decided as a nation to go to Mars under the Artemis program even with the cost, risks, and lack of return on investment. It has a different time-table than Mr. Musk’s vision, but it is a plan that seems to be in place at the moment.

Maybe Dr. Tyson believes that too will be a space race similar to what it going on now with China regarding a Moon landing. It seems more likely than not at the moment.

Anyway, ignore the main show and tap into the Overtime show for some fun space-related discussions.