At Space Symp just now, Acting NASA Admin Janet Petro said she's probably the person who is most looking forward to Jared Isaacman's confirmation. Her job is to keep the agency moving forward till he gets there. [His hrg is tmrw, but confirmation by Senate can be fast or slow] She confirmed lease on NASA HQ bldg expires in 2028. In response to Exec Order, looking at reorg, what needs to be where. At minimum, office of the Administrator, legislative affairs, legal affairs, in DC, but looking at everything else. "I'm not the decision maker."

At NAC-HEO meeting, Wayne Hale points out that today is the 22nd anniversary of the launch of the first ISS crew, so it's 22 years of always having people in space. [They docked with ISS on Nov 2, so two more days till 22 years of permanent human occupancy of ISS.] Jim Free says he hopes to send to NASA leadership in the next couple of weeks the organizational construct for a Moon to Mars program office that was required by the 2022 NASA Auth Act. [The law requires a M2M program be est w/in 120 days of enactment, which was Aug 9]

NASA JPSS-2/LOFTID pre-launch briefing getting underway.

Participants: Omar Baez is retiring! He's on the panel and NASA PAO Megan Cruz points out this is his last launch.

The Space Council meeting *should* start in one minute at 2:20 pm ET.

whitehouse.gov/live/ Here we go.

Artemis update media telecon starting:
Participants: Free: submitted waiver package to the Range. They've been gracious and understanding. We've asked for a couple of dates: Sept 23 and Sept 27. Trying to deconflict with DART requirements for DSN on 26th. And from other activities on Range Sept 30 and from Crew-5.

At LEAG, NASA HLS prog mgr Lisa Watson-Morgan re SpX's Starship HLS: "you could maybe get a feeling that their system is ready to go. And it's not yet. We're in design and development." Watson-Morgan: Starship is a fleet concept that starts with a fuel depot in Earth orbit that holds all the propellant. First launch the depot followed by "propellant aggregation" with tankers to fill it up. How many launches will that take? As many as needed.

Artemis I post-FRR media briefing should start in a few minutes:
Participants: According to the Artemis blog, they are go for launch on August 29.
blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2022/0…

NASA media telecon on Artemis III landing sites should start momentarily on NASA Live.
Participants: Kirasich: NASA and SpaceX have worked together with agency scientists and technologists to identify these areas.

The NAC meeting is just starting now.

Zoom link and agenda: nasa.gov/offices/nac/ho… Nelson: we have a NASA bill, signed today. We've gotten what we need, but appropriations is always a struggle and that starts with OMB. That's going on as we speak, getting ready for next yr. I had a few conversations at White House today.

NASA Psyche telecon coming up in a couple of minutes. Participants:
Lori Glaze (head of NASA's Pl Sci Division)
Laurie Leshin (new head of JPL)
Linda Elkins-Tanton, Arizona State Univ (PI for Psyche) Glaze: following exhaustive analysis & augmentaion of resources, Psyche *does not* have a path to launch in the 2022 opportunity.
We will stand down and look at opps in 2023 or 2024.

NASA media telecon on Artemis I has started.

Tom Whitmeyer-we've completed the evaluations and required work that we intended to complete for the WDR. Whitmeyer-we're doing one more test at the pad today and then will roll back.

Richard DalBello, head of Off of Space Commerce speaking (virtually) at #SWFSummit22 in London says they're talking with WH and soon will w/Congress about expanding their regulatory role to Article VI responsibilities (of Outer Space Treaty) in addn to earth imaging they do now. Re space situational awareness, DalBello, who led establishment of the Space Data Assn when he was at Intelsat >decade ago, says we still haven't solved issue of how govt and cmrcl space operators can "effortlessly" talk w/each other abt where sats are. #SWFSummit22

NASA briefing on latest from #Juno mission is starting. Here's the press release that just came out:
nasa.gov/press-release/… Marzia Parisi, JPL Juno scientist is studying Jupiter's Great Red Spot. Juno instruments determined it is 300 miles/500 km deep. She says that means it's as deep as the ISS is high above our heads.
[Interesting comparison]

Crew-3 post Flight Readiness Review (FRR) coming up momentarily. Watch on NASA TV.
Kathy Lueders, Steve Stich, Joel Montalbano, Holly Ridings from NASA; Bill Gerstenmaier, SpX; Frank de Winne, ESA; Junichi Sakai, JAXA. Scratch that. NASA's Commercial Crew twitter account now says 7:15 pm and listen on NASA Live. "We'll be holding a media teleconference at 7:15pm ET to discuss the outcome: nasa.gov/live"

Blue Origin, Sierra Space, Redwire, Boeing, Genesis and Arizona State Univ are announcing at the #IAC2021 right now plans for "Orbital Reef" a business park in space. Here's the brand new Orbital Reef website: orbitalreef.com

Somewhere on there should be the press release they've issued.

Chairwoman Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (EBJ as everyone calls her) wants an independent review of the Artemis program. It's critical "that we see a path to success" before increasing funding for it. Cmte wants NASA to succeed. Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) agrees -- need realistic plans, budgets, schedules. Finding extra $10B for second HLS "no easy task." Don't want Senate auth to become an unfunded mandate.

Full cmte chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) says he's doesn't want air travel disrupted by billionaires who want to experience 15 minutes of weightlessness. [Because airlines have to avoid launch/reentry area. He's expressed these views before.] DeFazio also says he's concerned some in industry want another extension to the "learning period" that expires in 2023. It prohibits FAA from promulgating addl passenger safety regulations for cmrcl spaceflight. [Right now companies must only get a customer's informed consent.]

Coming up at #GLEX2021 The presentation went by too fast to tweet, but as for when China might land ppl on the Moon, CNSA's Wu Yanhua said they don't have a date for that. Focus now for HSF is Tianhe space station. For moon, for next decade focus is robotic expl.

Van Hollen: Goddard and Wallops (which operates under Goddard's management) have several "shovel ready" projects. Need investment.
Nelson: your bridge is number one on the list. Jobs bill is opportunity for $ for infrastructure and R&D. Van Hollen: STEM is one of your priorities, yes?
Nelson: yes. FY2022 request is "robust."

Hearing is starting. Sbcmte Chair Sen Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) points out New Hampshire is also a space station. Alan Shepard and Christa McAuliffe were from NH; U of NH has highly regarded heliophysics program; etc. Shaheen: this budget steps up commitment to Earth science, sustainable aviation, science. Artemis: NASA blaming Congress for need to choose only a contractor "really rings hollow."

LTG Stephen Whiting tells committee DOD supports shifting non-military space traffic management to Dept of Commerce. [Specifically, Dept of Commerce, not to "civilian agency" as DOD folks often say.] State Dept's Jonathan Moore (OES): Biden-Harris Admin has charged us to explore the use of outer space to the benefit of humanity and ensure safety, stability and security of outer space activities. Artemis Accords are our commitment to principles of Outer Space Treaty.