Category Archives: Politics

Tuesday / 4 November 2025

Posted on by

Duffy or Isaacman? Who is Better for Urgent Moon Goals?

NASA Interim Administrator Sean Duffy announces Human Landing System contract reopened, proposes NASA become part of US Department of Transportation, discusses with NASA-contracted space industry companies desire to maintain status quo, deals with Air Traffic Controller crisis from government shutdown; entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, builder of 2 multibillion-dollar companies, financier / astronaut for 2 space flights, tweets need for private capital to fund space for pharmaceutical formulations / asteroid mining / orbital computing, sponsors “Athena plan” given to Duffy / leaked to reporters that gives equal kudos to SpaceX / Blue Origin, wants NASA to again achieve “the near-impossible” / lead the world in human space exploration / ignite the space economy / be a force multiplier for science

Image Credits: Duffy (L) – NASA / Bill Ingalls; NASA; Isaacman (R) – John Kraus

Tuesday / 28 October 2025

Posted on by

Lunar Development Cooperative Offers Transnational Framework for Sustainable Lunar Economy

Lunar Development Cooperative (LDC), New York City for-profit multinational public-private partnership proposed by Michael Castle-Miller, an attorney there, aims to enhance 1967 Outer Space Treaty by fostering egalitarian, peaceful and sustainable Moon economy; early investors can buy shares—starting at US$1—via global trading platform, be part of humanity’s lunar “holding company” with ≥51% equity held by private investors, ≤49% by sovereigns around the world; members pay fees based on market value of lunar rights to fund shared infrastructure, e.g. power stations and waste networks; robust rules ensure environmental protection, fair labor and competition, prioritize developing nations / indigenous groups for inclusive resource mining / development

Image Credits: The Lunar Development Cooperative

Friday / 5 September 2025

Posted on by

Hearing in USA Senate Re-Emphasizes Moon Goals, While India and China Expand Focus from Moon to Complete Solar System

Senate Commerce Committee with 28 members held 3 Sep hearing with 4 testifiers including Mike Gold (L), who advocates accelerating Moon landing, need for Gateway and funding, no major changes to Artemis (estimated cost through 2025 US$93B); NASA appoints Amit Kshatriya as Associate Administrator, elevating from Moon-to-Mars program; Moon is crucial stepping stone for complete Solar System exploration; India PM Modi (R): “We have reached the Moon and Mars, we must peek into Deep Space, where lie secrets to benefit humanity“; China quickly advancing long-range vision with its Chang-E lunar missions and Tianwen program to Uranus + beyond

Image Credits: NASA, Office of the Prime Minister

Tuesday / 22 July 2025

Posted on by

New NASA Acting Admin Is “Fired Up and Ready to Launch” to the Moon; Supports Artemis

Appointed NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy opposes proposed NASA funding cut of 24.3% overall and 47% for science; Congress, both sides of the aisle / both houses, wants to maintain current funding (no inflation adjustment); Duffy tweeted: Our critical Moon mission, Artemis, must be as known & supported by America … as Apollo was! It’s a race to the Moon. Clock is ticking. I’m fired up and ready to launch! YouGov/CBS News poll shows 2/3 of Americans want Astronauts back on the Moon

Credits: NASA, X, nasawatch.com

Friday / 18 July 2025

Posted on by

Lunar Science & Ethics MoU Forged Among LPP, COSPAR, IAU

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among International Astronomical Union (IAU), Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and Lunar Policy Platform (LPP), will enhance / develop, over the next 3 years, principles outlined in LPP Guide to Lunar Science & Ethics, promoting peaceful, safe and sustainable lunar activities; from this, COSPAR President Pascale Ehrenfreund expects enhanced international cooperation and science-informed space policies; IAU President Willy Benz acknowledges the imperative to protect Moon unique features for future generations; LPP global network includes 40+ governments, space agencies, companies, scientists, institutions

Credits: LPP, COSPAR, IAU, University of Hawai’i

Tuesday / 17 June 2025

Posted on by

RENOMINATE ISAACMAN

Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator was — and is — a good idea; his 100-page plan for NASA includes getting Artemis II on the launchpad this summer and flying by Dec 2025, 57 years-to-the-month after Apollo 8 instead of Apr 2026, and championing nuclear-electric propulsion; Isaacman would have donated his salary for scholarships and might have funded a flight to ISS; a confirmed NASA Administrator is now months away; NASA and USA would benefit from an Isaacman renomination

Credits: John Kraus, NASA

Tuesday / 10 June 2025

Posted on by

Open Lunar Foundation Seeks Shared Landing Info to Foster Mission Success

Open Lunar Foundation (OLF) seeks Moon mission success via open / non-siloed data sharing, Moon Positioning, Navigation, Timing (PNT) services, transparent coordination — for all entrepreneurs and agencies seeking to foster peaceful enduring presence for humans on the Moon that benefits all life; with 20+ infrastructure projects, 30+ research fellowships, 50+ experts, 70+ papers, 1,500+ members, OLF runs Lunar Registry database, called a Wikipedia of Moon missions, participates in UNCOPUOS, compiles lunar achievements by country: China, USA, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Europe

Credits: Open Lunar Foundation, ispace; Pictured L-R: Founder Jessy Kate Schingler, Co-founder Chelsea Robinson, Science Communications Lead Jatan Mehta, Director Carlos Alvarado Quesada 48th President of Costa Rica, PNT Project Contributor Peng Hu

Friday / 6 June 2025

Posted on by

2026 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Will Be Hosted by USRA / LPI; ISS 2026 Conference Is in Discussion, 2025 “Canceled”

Universities Space Research Association / Lunar & Planetary Institute (USRA / LPI) will mount LSPC 2026, its 57th year, after NASA bow-out; USRA / LPI has been in the forefront of ISS human health research; International Space Station Research & Development Conference long scheduled for 28-31 Jul in Seattle WA suddenly has website notice current regulatory and budget reform does not support holding it; 850+ participants expected, hotel would not reveal whether refunds will be given; next year may be rolled into AIAA ASCEND

Credits: USRA / LPI, ISSRDC, AIAA

Tuesday / 27 May 2025

Posted on by

Isaacman in His Own Words: Artemis in Focus; NASA Admin Senate Vote Soon

 “I would prioritize the Artemis program; If confirmed, I will focus on getting Artemis back on track”; “There will inevitably be a thriving space economy—one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space”; “NASA should … refocus its world-class talent and infrastructure on … developing the next generation of exploration technologies”; “I would work closely with our [Gateway] partners … to find an acceptable path forward”; “a ~50% reduction to NASA’s science budget does not appear to be an optimal outcome”; Full Senate vote on Isaacman to head NASA likely to be week of 2-6 Jun

Credits: Jared Isaacman, NASA

Tuesday / 20 May 2025

Posted on by

JAXA Chief Offers Technology Partnership to Keep NASA Moon Missions On-Track

 JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa offers response to NASA budget proposal cutting ~6% of current US$24.8B, although not human exploration portion, says Japan has high-precision Moon landing technology, lunar rover, resupply capabilities and lunar water data to offer Artemis missions; emphasizes lunar Gateway or similar infrastructure needed, could include JAXA human habitation module created with ESA; SLS / Orion are 140% over budget at US$23B, cost US$4B per launch, had been planned to deploy Gateway; NASA budget proposal for FY 2026 beginning Oct 2025 earmarks over $7 billion for lunar exploration, introduces $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs

Credits: JAXA