Snow Leopard Financial Group’s Post

Mr. O'Keefe endorses Vice President Harris to be president. Reflecting on her leadership of the National Space Council, he says this is "“why I think she is the best person to become president of the United States.” Setting aside all of the other "negatives" attached to Vice President Harris, ponder the state of America's human space exploration program. Do you think it is being successful? How has her leadership done anything other than "rubber stamp" declining NASA efforts since the time when Mr. O'Keefe was the NASA Administrator. Recall that it was under Mr. O'Keefe's "watch" (2001-2004) that the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia was lost, killing all seven astronauts aboard. This was an avoidable loss. Under NASA's "human-rated" safety protocol, I understand that Mr. O'Keefe carried the ultimate approval responsibility for that accident—its cause deeply rooted in poor and persistent NASA safety protocols that enabled the Shuttle to continue to fly with known flight safety hazards. Speaking of former President Trump, Mr. O'Keefe said: “Months ago, it was apparent to me that there would not be a Republican in the 2024 race for the presidency, certainly not a candidate with the principles and policies I ever associated with Republicans." Yet, O'Keefe gave no credit to the Trump administration for renewing NASA's lunar human exploration program. In my opinion, the National Space Council has been a detriment to America's human spacefaring future. NASA's plans are increasingly unraveling. I see no evidence that Vice President Harris has any real understanding of America's space program or appreciation for the criticality of the success of America's future human spacefaring enterprise to America's security and prosperity. #trump #harris #NASA

[NASA Astronaut And Director Ellen Ochoa Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom] The first Hispanic woman to launch into space is now the second female astronaut to be awarded the United States' highest honor. Ellen Ochoa, who later directed NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, was bestowed with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House on Friday (May 3). Ochoa is the 10th astronaut to receive the medal. "For most, the American dream is to be successful in whatever endeavor you choose here on Earth. For Dr. Ellen Ochoa, her dream was in the heavens," said President Joe Biden, who presided over the ceremony. "Ellen was the first Hispanic woman to go to space, ushering in a whole new age of space exploration and what it means for every generation to reach for the stars." Individuals chosen for the Presidential Medal of Freedom have significantly contributed to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other societal, public or private endeavors, according to the White House. "Wow, what an unexpected and amazing honor!" said Ochoa, upon first hearing that she was going to be honored, according to a statement issued by NASA. "I'm so grateful for all my amazing NASA colleagues who shared my career journey with me." In addition to the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Ochoa has been recognized for her role in the U.S. space program with NASA's highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal, and in 2017 was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in Florida. Schools bear her name today in California, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington. Source: https://lnkd.in/e5W7X2YD #galaxyaerosgh #space #spaceexploration #spacenews

We need to be very careful about NASA funding of Commercial LEO Destinations (CLDs). There is the very real danger that NASA's budget will be tied up for decades funding so-called commercial LEO stations thereby preventing it from taking full advantage of emerging transport systems like the Starship fleet. We have twice been locked into decades-long commitments that have prevented us from going beyond LEO -- namely the Shuttle and the ISS. There were only a few people who correctly identified how those projects would slow down rather than speed up our expansion beyond Earth. SpaceX (and Blue Origin) have the equity, revenue, and capital-raising capacity to develop bases/settlements on the Moon and Mars, so that is going to happen with or without NASA funding. But the question is, will NASA's budget have sufficient remaining space to fully partner with that? And if not, to what extent will America be able to lead the other nations as permanent footholds are established off Earth? For the sake of so-called "commercial" space, it is easy to imagine NASA providing major funding for not one but two LEO stations. So yes, America retains a presence in LEO continuing the sort of research we have been doing for 25 years. But, what progress did we miss out on because of the $150 - $200 billion that we spent building and supporting the ISS? Likewise, will America be able to lead in the establishment of international bases leading to settlements on the Moon and Mars where abundant material resources exist? Let's make sure that we are able to take full advantage of the capability of the Starship fleet since it is now right coming within reach.

NASA has no money left for new space missions! Here is the story-- The organization has been pushing the US government to grant it funds so it can start new missions. NASA requested about $27 billion for all of its missions, space explorations and operations in FY24. But it only received funds that were close to 9% lower than its expectations and 2% lower than the previous year. And now, the budget request that it has just placed for FY25 is $2 billion lower than what it asked for last year! That’s a lot of money to give up. Especially when you put things into perspective. The Chandra X-Ray Observatory built in 1999 that has been key to understanding black holes and galaxies was built with that sum of money (not adjusted for inflation). But why isn’t NASA getting the money it wants, you ask? Well, for starters, it’s to do with the US government’s debt burden itself. Last year, the country was on the brink of a default and it has been paring back on what it considers unnecessary or discretionary spending. Yes, NASA’s programmes are considered a part of that bucket because times have changed since the 1960s. Back then, the US was itching to win the race to the moon and beat the Soviet Union. It didn’t hesitate to splash the cash on NASA. At its peak in 1965, NASA funding was at some 5% of the total US government spending. And using all those resources, NASA was able to create Apollo — the space mission to land the first humans on the moon. This programme was so important that 3 out of every 5 dollars for space programs went to the Apollo mission. And NASA spent upwards of $25 billion on it. Adjusted for inflation that’s a whopping $283 billion in today’s value. But then what changed between then and now? Get the full scoop in today's newsletter- https://bit.ly/3xNY6w9 And don't forget to subscribe to Finshots for more insightful content- https://bit.ly/3q51IWT

[Who Is Jared Isaacman, Trump's Pick For NASA Chief?] U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman, a billionaire, philanthropist and private astronaut to lead NASA. What do we know about the potential next administrator of America’s space agency? Isaacman, born in Union, New Jersey in February 1983, is worth an estimated $1.8 billion, according to Forbes. He accrued this fortune from his payment-processing company, Shift4 Payments, which he set up at 16 years old back in 1999. He has strong interests in aviation and spaceflight, and his wealth has enabled him to embark on space missions. These include Inspiration4, which was the first-ever all-civilian orbital spaceflight, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. The three-day-long, four-person mission orbited Earth for three days in September 2021. Isaacman followed this up with Polaris Dawn, a five-day mission in September of this year that notched a number of milestones. In a human spaceflight first, the mission flew over the poles and included the first-ever private spacewalk, in which Isaacman and crewmate Sarah Gillis briefly exited their Dragon spacecraft. Both Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn also aimed to raise awareness and hundreds of millions of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Isaacman's nomination to serve as the next administrator of NASA came on Dec. 4. Donald Trump, in his first space-related move ahead of his incoming second administration, noted Isaacman's business achievements and stated his belief that the private astronaut could spur on the agency. There are few clues to what an Isaacman tenure at NASA could bring. Isaacman is, the nonprofit Planetary Society notes, an outsider to NASA, the space industry and the political circles of Washington, D.C. But a few hints are available from his X social media account, including a post Isaacman made about being nominated for NASA chief. Isaacman is potentially stepping in to lead NASA at a time of growing competition for space leadership with China. NASA aims to get its astronauts back to the moon around 2027 with the third mission in the Artemis program. Source: https://lnkd.in/eKTP3Ctv #galaxyaerosgh #space #spaceexploration #SpaceNews

New #funding #opportunity from NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) is out now and seeking Step-1 proposals Proposers can submit on any topic that addresses HRP's risks to #human #health and #performance in space for the NASA HRP Omnibus solicitation. Grants are for one year with a budget up to $250K. The pre-proposer's conference takes place this Thursday, November 14th at 11 am Central. See dial-in details on the right hand side of the NSPIRES Omnibus webpage under "Pre-proposers conference information." From the call: "NASA is requesting proposals for short-term #investigations or #technology #development projects that provide #innovative approaches to any of the risks and associated knowledge gaps contained in the Human Research Program (HRP) Integrated Research Plan (IRP). Proposers may access the most current Web-based version of the IRP at the Human Research Roadmap (HRR) Web site at https://lnkd.in/g_vXDXvH. The results of these short-term investigations are anticipated to deliver new tools, techniques, or knowledge that could lead to novel breakthroughs addressing one or more of the risks and gaps in the IRP. These short-term investigations may provide initial results testing a new scientific approach, or they may provide the initial proof-of-concept for a new technology or method that has not yet been proven to address a risk or gap in the IRP. All short-term investigations are expected to produce novel scientific knowledge or technology development that can stand alone to address a risk or gap in the IRP, but these investigations may also provide the necessary preliminary results to justify a full proposal to a future NASA solicitation." Solicitation details: https://lnkd.in/gtc5pSzq More about NASA HRP: https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/

What he said at the Space Force Association’s Spacepower 2024 conference... From Jared Isaacmanhas, Trump-nominated NASA chief - "I think it is absolutely inevitable...If Americans are in low Earth orbit, there’s going to need to be people watching out for them. This is the trajectory that humankind is going to follow. America is going to lead it and we’re going to need guardians there on the high ground looking out for us.” "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.” #usa #nasa #space https://lnkd.in/gBPszceh

Space is a Global Effort! 🌠 When it comes to space exploration, it's not "every man for himself." The most successful missions and technologies are the result of international collaboration. From the ISS to the James Webb Telescope and solar orbiters, joint efforts by countries and companies push us further than we ever could alone. Remember the Apollo-Soyuz mission? A handshake between two astronauts built a bridge between countries, helping shape a future beyond Earth! 🌍🤝 And that's not all – projects to grow food in space, solar pole research, and the development of new systems for long-term missions to the Moon and Mars continue to drive humanity towards new stars. These projects require not just science and technology, but the uniting of the best minds on the planet! 💡🌟 Our team at Beyond Earth Technologies has already established several global successful partnerships in space technology, and we’re always open to new achievements. Reach out if you want to be part of something bigger – there's always room for everyone in space! 🌌✨ More about space collaboration here https://lnkd.in/eeZ6FSQp #BeyondEarthTechnologies #SpaceCollaboration #FutureInSpace #SpaceTech #SpaceExploration

🚀 Exciting News from NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration! 🌟 The four intrepid volunteers who have been living and working inside NASA’s groundbreaking simulated yearlong Mars habitat mission are about to emerge from their ground-based home! 🏠🌏 On Saturday, July 6, at 5 p.m. EDT, NASA will provide live coverage of their highly anticipated exit from the habitat at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. This is a momentous event that you don’t want to miss! 🎥🌠 During the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission, which began on June 25, 2023, these dedicated crew members—Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell, and Nathan Jones—played a crucial role. They simulated Mars mission operations, embarked on “Marswalks,” cultivated vegetables to supplement their shelf-stable food, and maintained equipment. They navigated additional stressors a Mars crew would face, including communication delays with Earth, resource constraints, and isolation. Their unique and commendable contribution to the mission is truly remarkable. 🌱🔧🌌 Did you know Jacobs has been working alongside NASA and additional subcontractors on the first-of-its-kind ground-based 3D-printed Mars habitat for CHAPEA? This habitat simulates long-duration exploration missions lasting approximately one year. The mission observes and collects data on human health and performance of a four-person crew in a simulated Mars environment, preparing for the ultimate goal of the Artemis mission—sending astronauts to Mars. 🚀🌠 Can’t be there in person? No worries! Tune in to NASA+ or NASA Television, visit the NASA app, or follow NASA Johnson on social media for the live stream. 📺📱 Learn more about CHAPEA here 🌐👉https://lnkd.in/gGpXcJa7 #NASA #SpaceExploration #MarsMission #Artemis #ScienceAndDiscovery

POTUS-ELECT SELECTS THE NEXT NASA ADMINISTRATOR - Concerns about "excessive consolidation" of contractors; need to foster more competition in this space - Questions about Artemis program's future and how that program will be coordinated with SpaceX's aims with its Starship program Jared Isaacman has been selected to serve as the next NASA Administrator. He is focused on advancing space exploration and the space economy. Mr. Isaacman is the founder and CEO of Shift4. He was also the commander and funder of two private astronaut missions. The timing of Mr. Isaacman's selection is a bit surprising to many as it's much earlier than past selections of NASA administrators. NASA of course has successfully executed many amazing missions in past decades such as the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers to Mars, James Webb Space Telescope deployment, International Space Station (ISS) operations, Juno probe to Jupiter, New Horizons probe to Pluto, and the Parker Probe to the Sun. But, as far as deep space human travel, administrative and technical hurdles have led to delay after delay, especially regarding the Artemis program which is expected to bring humans back to the Moon. The last crewed mission to the Moon and the final Apollo mission [17] was in 1972. The Apollo program was cut-short mainly due to its cost - around 2% of U.S. GDP; some also say that the political appetite for risk diminished. According to a NASA release on December 5, 2024 Artemis II, which is to take four Astronauts around the moon, has been pushed out to April 2026 and Artemis III, which is to send the first humans to the lunar South Pole region, has been pushed out to mid-2027. Some of the main reasons for the additional timeline extensions are to work out issues with Orion's [the spacecraft that will support Artemis missions] environmental control and life support systems as well as a heat shield issue [charred material on the heat shield]. Some top experts and advocates for crewed deep space missions have commented that NASA is way behind where it should be and decisions, such as focusing on the Space Shuttle program versus taking advantage of the momentum generated from Apollo, have left us circling the Earth rather than taking a more daring and pioneering approach. The main question seems to be, just exactly how much risk is acceptable? Crewed space travel is very dangerous with around a 2% mortality of all crewed space missions. But, there are no lack of volunteers to give it a go. It should be interesting to see how the culture at NASA shifts and to what extent. NASA has been evolving as it increases its dependence on and cooperation with private space ventures, such as SpaceX. Hopefully they will find the right "special recipe" for managing and setting goals for space exploration as we approach the 3rd decade of the 21st century. #nasa #spaceexploration #spacex #spacex #artemis