On Wednesday, Jared Isaacman, who President Trump has chosen as the next NASA Administrator, had his confirmation hearing. It was exciting to hear his thoughts on NASA’s mission and priorities. The next step is a committee vote to send his nomination to the full Senate, though a date for that vote is still pending. I’ll keep you in the loop as soon as I learn more.
As we look towards new leadership, we continue making progress on our mission. This week was filled with milestones that showcase the hard work and creativity of our team:
- Jonny Kim reached the International Space Station this Monday after launching on a Soyuz rocket. This is his first journey into space, and he will be there for eight months, working on essential research in areas like technology, Earth science, and human health. His trip underscores how human spaceflight advances scientific knowledge for everyone.
- Bangladesh signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the 54th nation to commit to peaceful and responsible space exploration. This milestone highlights our shared ideals and strengthens global collaboration. We’re eager to see how Bangladesh’s talent will enrich our future in space.
- At the Kennedy Space Center, we made strides toward next year’s Artemis II launch. Crews placed the launch vehicle stage adapter atop the Space Launch System core stage. This adapter connects the SLS to the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, which will soon head to the Vehicle Assembly Building.
- Nasa’s Aeronautics team kicked off a flight test campaign to safely incorporate air taxis into national airspace. Using a Joby Aviation demonstrator aircraft, we are standardizing flight test maneuvers and improving safety tools, paving the way for efficient air taxi operations.
- In just three months, NASA is testing a fourth entry, descent, and landing technology. Recent trials using various vehicles show our capability to rapidly advance important systems for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
- In response to severe weather affecting over ten states recently, our NASA Disasters Response Coordination System was activated. We are collaborating with the National Weather Service and FEMA to provide satellite data that helps communities prepare and recover.
During my time at the 40th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, I connected with numerous international partners and industry leaders. We discussed critical topics like space communications and commercial ventures in low Earth orbit. These conversations were insightful and essential for shaping our future.
We are also focusing on President Trump’s Workforce Optimization Initiative. Agency leaders are reviewing ideas to streamline operations and enhance decision-making processes. This effort includes evaluating the potential relocation of certain functions from the National Capital Region, envisioning what NASA’s future headquarters might look like to best support our mission and staff.
Now is a vital time for NASA. We must stay focused and committed to our core values as we move forward. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our mission.
Best,
Janet
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