Once upon a time humans took short trips to the Moon. Then we stopped. Now we are going back – to stay. The prospect of an actual Moon base wherein we live and work offworld utterly fascinates me. It has for more than 50 years. Now we’re actually going to do it. How we do this whole Moon base thing absolutely captivates me. I’m going to write a lot about this on NASAWatch.com and Astrobiology.com as I pivot my efforts in the years ahead. I am already writing a book on how to mount Astrobiology expeditions on this world – and beyond. So these dispatches will be somewhat of an installment series from that process. More below

Keith’s note: According to this press release NASA did a big Moon base reveal today. Lunar landers, rovers, and drone selections were announced. Two Moon-related BAAs will be released as well. And the NASA Moonbase website has some upgrades.

Keith’s note: Imagine that I am a regular person trying to find those 12,000 Artemis II images from links in all the recent articles about them. If you go to https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov and search for “Artemis II” or “ArtemisII” or “Artemis” you get one search result (see image). If you search for “Moon” you see “Lunar Collection” which has nothing from Artemis – nor are there any ‘Artemis’ links elsewhere on this Moon page. If you go to the NASA Artemis page or the Artemis II page these 12,000 Artemis II images are not even mentioned.

Keith’s note: I was just on i24 in Israel talking about the Artemis Accords (I used a visual aid), the Artemis II mission, international cooperation in space exploration, inspiration, and that maybe – just maybe – a hope that the way we explore space can teach us something about how we can get along better back on Earth e.g. the ultimate space spinoff. [Audio]

Keith’s Update: Hey NASA Goddard GESTA IFPTE Local 29 – You have said nothing about this. You should be beating the bushes to find supportive input for this. If you won’t stand up for yourselves then why expect others to do so? You have 4 days left to provide/promote input. Keith’s earlier note: According to the National Academies: “The National Academies are seeking suggestions for experts to participate in a new Congressionally mandated consensus study tasked with conducting a high-level assessment of current technical and scientific capabilities housed at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), what capabilities are positioned to ensure long-term success of the NASA mission—including for future cutting-edge scientific discovery and crewed space exploration—and what facilities are needed to house and operate those capabilities.” More below

Keith’s Note: Last week we all had a moment to savor just how extraordinary the Artemis II mission was – not only for its technological prowess- but more importantly the sense of pride, wonder, and inspiration it generated here and across the world. So, how do we reward the team who did this? We – gut their budget – for the second year in a row -of course. Congratulations! A preview from the LA Times: A renewed threat to JPL as the Trump administration tries again to cut NASA.

Keith’s note: A media question asked the crew about the removal of the initial “First woman and first person of color” aspirational tag line for Artemis from all NASA websites and materials (by the Trump Administration’s anti-DEI purge.) The answer in a nutshell was that this initial decision had been made a while back such that it will still happen – no matter what – even if it takes a little longer to come to pass. I just Googled and found one remaining example. Let’s see if the anti-DEI squad at NASA PAO deletes it. Or, since it came to pass, if they’d just let it be.

Keith’s note: I was just on BBC World with Astronaut Cady Coleman. We were both asked for a final favorite impression of Artemis II. I said “the crew’s loss for words”. That resonated with me. At one point at Everest Scott Parazynski and I were practicing photo stances for his summit activities with 4 small Apollo 11 moon rocks that Scott eventually took to the summit. I held up the rocks and eclipsed the Moon – with pieces of the Moon – at the foot of Mt. Everest. No one else other than the two of us have ever done that. How do you express that instant of cosmic Zen? I have tried and it’s still incomplete. All these years later I think of that trip every day and feel a responsibility – when I can – to explain the adventure of exploration whenever I can – as incomplete as my words will always be – hopefully so as to inspire others to take up the challenge to explore and convey the value of exploration to an ever-widening audience.

Keith’s note: According to a memo from OSTP: “President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14369, “Ensuring American Space Superiority” (December 18, 2025), established the bold and ambitious goal of enabling near-term use of space nuclear power by deploying nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit, including a lunar surface reactor ready for launch by 2030. As directed in the EO, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will coordinate implementation of these goals through the National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power (Initiative). This memorandum provides guidance to Federal departments and agencies (agencies) on achieving the President’s priority for space nuclear power through this Initiative.” Full memo.

Keith’s note: Former Deputy/Acting NASA Administrator Fred Gregory posted this on Facebook and it is reposted here with his permission. “What an accomplishment after such a long multi-generational pause between our moon adventures. Somehow this current excitement must be sustained, motivated not by a competitive adversary but an intense curiosity of what’s out there and why learning and exploring and discovery allows a civilization to survive. After more than 2 years Artemis 2 clearly represents what we can do, but I don’t see or feel the underlying motivation nor excitement to do much more.” More below

Keith’s note: The Artemis II mission got off to a slow start. Then it hit the road at warp speed. The novelty of a Moon mission and swelling media coverage all helped to push some of the bad news aside for a few minutes every hour. Real pictures exceeding the best SciFi splashed out on social media and TV. Many people were pleasantly caught by surprise that this was even happening. But soon the crew will be home. And the hoopla will subside – and then quickly disappear. Humanity just mounted its first mission to another world in half a century and we’re already moving on the latest war or scandal. This happened after the first Apollo missions. Are we doomed to see history repeat itself with Artemis? Or can NASA and the broader world community keep this nascent era of interplanetary exploration alive and at the forefront on people’s daily lives – especially the “Artemis Generation”. Follow-through and building momentum is harder than the hardest rocket science. Just sayin’ More to follow.

Keith’s note: according to this article “The U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s  first director, Edward “Ed” Buckbee, has died. He was 89. Hailed as a visionary, he assembled and managed the world’s largest space and rocket exhibition and founded the highly successful U.S. Space Camp and Aviation Challenge programs, according to his biography with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Foundation.” Buckbee’s efforts inspired many, many young people over the decades – some of whom went on to become scientists, engineers, astronauts – and one even became NASA Administrator. As we set foot once again on a path back toward the Moon, I can only hope that people like Ed Buckbee are remembered alongside the other legends of America’s exploration of space. Ad Astra Ed.

Keith’s note: The exploration of space holds endless resonances with the exploration of Earth:

• On 6 April 1909 Matthew Henson became the first African American to reach the North Pole.
• On 6 April 2026 Victor Glover became the first African American to reach the Moon

Keith’s note: The path NASA was on included ISS and one, maybe two, LEO space stations requiring heavy subsidies – plus the mini-lunar space station Gateway. Funding was lacking for this big space party which was always over budget and years behind schedule. And oh yes, let’s land people on the Moon. The fact that all the big players (old space and new space alike) who always need more money and (risk little of their own) complain off the record to media means that Jared Isaacman must have struck the right nerve – with precision. This whole thing needs to be rebooted. That’s the plan and it’s long overdue. Just sayin’.

Keith’s note: In case you have not already noticed NASA and space exploration have a deep branding and meme penetration. These two ads just ran (again) back to back midday on CNN. NASA will get exposure for ~12 days for Artemis II – then nothing – since NASA doesn’t know how to do follow-up. “Project Hail Mary” sugar high tie-ins are great – but what do you do when everyone has seen it?

• Credit One Ad https://www.instagram.com/reels/DV9fXmmDdy0/
• Old Spice Ad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xywz26wIRLs

Keith’s note: Dale Andersen is back from the first of two Astrobiology expeditions to Lake Untersee, Antarctica in 2026. This excerpt and photo captures the awesome beauty that accompanies forays into potentially dangerous locations as we advance science via exploration. A preview of coming attractions on Artemis II. “Just beneath Untersee’s ice, my tether runs ahead toward the distant glimmer of the dive hole, the only passage back from the blue and solitary world below. As I swim, I hear the measured rhythm of my own breathing and, now and then, the voices of colleagues on the surface carried through a thin, yellow line into the earpieces of my Kirby Morgan Exo-26 full-face mask. They ask for an update, reminding me to check my air pressure. A glance at my air-integrated dive computer, a few quick words in reply, and all is well. Soon, after a brief three-minute safety stop beneath the dive hole, I will return to the surface through the three and half meters (about twelve feet) of ice.” Full Report

Keith’s note: NASA currently has two droids at work on Mars: Perseverance and its Older sibling Curiosity. Their common task is to perform astrobiology and astrogeology exploration activities on Mars. Both rovers are the size of a small car and, while they are ultimately controlled by humans back on Earth, they have become increasingly smarter – and independent – over the years thanks to new programming and some AI. As we continue to explore Mars and other worlds and return to the Moon, a new generation of scientists and engineers will be needed at NASA and the world’s other space agencies. If you are a fan of space – then you may have seen ads for a Mars Rover kit on social media – the NASA Mars Perseverance Rover by CircuitMess. But this is not just a pretty toy to look at. It works and acts like a real Mars rover. This is a participatory kit. You build it and code it. More

Keith’s note: As humanity expands outward we need to make sure it is all of humanity. Moreover, we may find that living in space may be a more enabling – and empowering – experience for some people than living on Earth. Eric Ingram has some thoughts: “I just published something I’ve been carrying quietly for a long time. It’s the full story of my experience with lunar gravity across two research flights, including the first time reduced gravity allowed me to stand unassisted, and what that moment taught me about access, human limits, and the future. This is the first time I’ve told the story in full, and the first time I’m sharing the lunar gravity photos and videos from the second flight. If you’re curious, I’d love for you to read it.” Full story.

Keith’s note: One of the most awe inspiring things NASA does is Astrobiology – the search for life elsewhere in the universe. Yet despite this astonishing work, the NASA Astrobiology program is a scattered mess and stumbles upon itself to engage the public. And it can’t even link NASA’s few stories on this topic to their own program. Oh yes: the White House talks about this topic now and it is likely to get mentioned in the State of the Union speech tonight – one way or another. The trailer for Apple TV’s “For All Mankind” season 5 trailer just dropped – and they open with a prime task: “our mission is to find life”. Here’s a chance to expand NASA’s reach beyond the usual suspects – and maybe even make a few converts. Why not have weekly chats about this? What’s accurate and what is not – and why. The future of Mars Sample Return and the presidential mandate to go to Mars would seemingly be ample rationale for doing so. Just sayin’.