Kelly McCarthy

Lifelong learner | explorer | educator, writer. member of humankind. did a TEDx talk once. views my own

[NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman @NASAAdmin]

Starting with some energy, and my inability to write brief updates, I am just extremely proud of the NASA crew, our industry, and our international partners. We are getting into a rhythm here at NASA. Earlier this year, setbacks put the Artemis II rocket back in the VAB for repairs, and we determined it was necessary to add another mission, Artemis III in 2027. Since then, we have unveiled the Ignition plans to build a Moon Base and nuclear-powered spaceships, launched a highly successful mission around the Moon, brought the crew home safely, and now watched the torch pass to Artemis III. There will be no shortage of major milestones to celebrate in the months ahead as we build the Moon Base and launch the Nancy Grace Roman telescope. I am beyond proud of the team and all the momentum and excitement around the space program.

I do want to take this moment to address two of the questions I have been seeing since the crew announcement.

Why are there no women assigned to Artemis III?

I have seen reactions ranging from disappointment to outrage. I have personally been to space twice with 50% female crews. My closest advisors and some of the smartest engineers I know are women. In our latest NASA leadership organization, nearly 50% of the Center Directors and Mission Directorate leadership are women. The last astronaut candidate class selected under this Administration was majority female because they were the best of the best, including one astronaut I previously went to space with.

In a world with so much controversy, I hope this can be a moment where we celebrate the astronauts selected, respect the integrity of the process, and recognize the extraordinary depth of talent across the entire corps. The crew selection does not involve any political appointees. The Astronaut Office assigns the crew that gives the mission the best chance of meeting its objectives, taking into account many factors, including the background and expertise of the astronauts, such as test pilot experience, development work on specific programs, and availability. For example, those raising this concern may not be aware of the pipeline of crews already preparing to launch to the Space Station, or those who have been undergoing lunar-specific training that would be a better fit for a future surface mission.

The Artemis III astronauts are experienced, qualified, and deserve to be celebrated for the mission they have been assigned, just as the crews that follow will be celebrated when their time comes. We have an extraordinary astronaut corps, and every mission and every crew is part of a larger campaign to get America back to the Moon and to build the future we all dreamed about as children.

What are the objectives for Artemis III if both landers will not be fully ready?

Coming off a highly successful lunar mission like Artemis II, it is not surprising that the bar is set high for Artemis III. I think it is important to understand how difficult and dangerous it is to land astronauts on the Moon. We have not done it in a very long time, and we want to draw from a past playbook for success. That means getting into a cadence of launching, learning, and rolling improvements into the next mission.

First and foremost, it is imperative for SLS to be flying with some frequency for operational currency and, honestly, safety. Earlier this year, it was very clear across NASA leadership that an additional mission was necessary in 2027. It is also imperative to gain interoperability data from rendezvous and docking with landers in Earth orbit. We do not need those landers that are still in development to be fully capable and certified for landing on the Moon on Artemis III, but we do need to test certain systems and controllability. Not to mention, we are moving quickly into a future where we do not require a single rocket to bring everything necessary for a mission to space, and as such, gaining experience with multi-launch campaigns and on-orbit assembly is directionally correct.

The Blue Origin test lander for Artemis III will incorporate many of the most important systems and subsystems that have not previously been operated by the provider, including ECLSS in a crew cabin, and other avionics. With SpaceX, they have demonstrated many of those capabilities continuously on Crew Dragon, but other controllability tests are important based on the negative-X axis acceleration that will be necessary when Starship undertakes the TLI burn to the Moon with a docked Orion.

After Artemis III, we will learn a lot and roll in further improvements, be that hardware, software, or procedural updates, as both providers undertake end-to-end uncrewed demonstrations to the surface in 2028, in advance of Artemis IV, where NASA astronauts will finally complete the grand return to the Moon.

As I said in my remarks yesterday, when Gene Cernan left the lunar surface on Apollo 17, he said, “We leave as we came, and, God willing, we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind.” We are returning, and we are doing so with the fire carried forward from Apollo, the lessons learned from Artemis II, the crew of Artemis III, and all those who will follow. NASA will send the very best crews for the right missions. If the composition of our astronaut corps and our latest class of candidates says anything, it is that we have exactly the talent required to get the job done.

Godspeed Artemis III, and all those who will follow.

[NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman @NASAAdmin]

With Artemis II complete, we’re preparing to roll Artemis III into the VAB. Artemis III will rendezvous with our partners in earth orbit as we continue building toward the @NASAMoonBase.

Artemis missions will launch every year, with Artemis IV landing on the Moon in 2028.

[NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman @NASAAdmin]

A message from one generation of lunar pioneers to the next… 🇺🇸🌖

[NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman @NASAAdmin]

As an update to my earlier post.

- The ICPS helium bottles are used to purge the engines, as well as for LH2 and LOX tank pressurization. The systems did work correctly during WDR1 and WDR2.

- Last evening, the team was unable to get helium flow through the vehicle. This occurred during a routine operation to repressurize the system.

- We observed a similar failure signature on Artemis I.

- The Artemis II vehicle is in a safe configuration, using ground ECS purge for the engines versus the onboard helium supply.

- Potential faults could include the final filter between the ground and flight vehicle, located on the umbilical, though this seems least likely based on the failure signature. It could also be a failed QD umbilical interface, where similar issues have been observed. It could also be a failed check valve onboard the vehicle, which would be consistent with Artemis I, though corrective actions were taken to minimize reoccurrence on Artemis II.

Regardless of the potential fault, accessing and remediating any of these issues can only be performed in the VAB.

As mentioned previously, we will begin preparations for rollback, and this will take the March launch window out of consideration.

I understand people are disappointed by this development. That disappointment is felt most by the team at NASA, who have been working tirelessly to prepare for this great endeavor. During the 1960s, when NASA achieved what most thought was impossible, and what has never been repeated since, there were many setbacks. One historic example is that Neil Armstrong spent less than 11 hours in space on Gemini 8 before his mission ended prematurely due to a technical issue. A little over three years later, he became the first man to walk on the Moon.

There are many differences between the 1960s and today, and expectations should rightfully be high after the time and expense invested in this program. I will say again, the President created Artemis as a program that will far surpass what America achieved during Apollo. We will return in the years ahead, we will build a Moon base, and undertake what should be continuous missions to and from the lunar environment. Where we begin with this architecture and flight rate is not where it will end.

Please expect a more extensive briefing later this week as we outline the path forward, not just for Artemis II, but for subsequent missions, to ensure NASA meets the President’s vision to return to the Moon and, this time, to stay.

[Bill Nelson @SenBillNelson]

My letter to the next NASA Administrator:

[Bill Nelson @SenBillNelson]

It's National Intern Day, and at @NASA, we're celebrating the outstanding contributions of our interns. Your enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and math is inspiring. Together, we're fueling curiosity and expanding our understanding of the cosmos. Keep dreaming big!

[NASA @NASA]

Victor Glover: captain, pilot, astronaut.

Glover most recently served as the pilot of the NASA @SpaceX #Crew1 mission and will be one of four astronauts flying aboard the #Artemis II mission around the Moon. https://t.co/zZVUxTFHOd

Celebrate #MilitaryAppreciationMonth.

[Christina H Koch @Astro_Christina]

You stood.  All of you.

You stood for taking on the challenge. For doing things that are hard. For exploring together.

Of all the things we did last week to introduce Artemis II, this unexpected standing ovation was the moment I realized—You’re all behind this.

We are going.

[ARCHIVED - Dr. Nicky Fox @NASAScienceAA]

Hello Twitterverse! ✨ I’m Dr. Nicky Fox & I have one of the best jobs on the planet — Being the Head of #NASAScience!

Follow this new account where myself & future @NASA Science leaders will share updates on the science we’re doing to understand our planet, the Moon, & beyond.

[NASA @NASA]

Here they are. @SenBillNelson announces the #Artemis II crew, the next astronauts to fly around the Moon:

@Astro_Christina
@Astro_Jeremy
@AstroVicGlover
@Astro_Reid

We go together. https://t.co/XdUizg2Wye

[NASA @NASA]

When Irish skies are smiling...

This cloud-free view of Ireland, the Emerald Isle, was captured from space by our Aqua satellite back in 2010. Happy #StPatricksDay!

[Bill Nelson @SenBillNelson]

JUST IN: On April 3, we will reveal the crew for @NASAArtemis II!

Four crew members – three from @NASA & one from @csa_asc – will fly around the Moon. Together, they’ll test the @NASA_SLS rocket & the @NASA_Orion spacecraft. We are going! #StateOfNASA

[Pop Base @PopBase]

Rihanna after her #SuperBowl halftime show.

[Kelly McCarthy @kmccarthy317]

😩 it was such a good game though. And Rihanna (& her little one) rocked it!

[Philadelphia Eagles @Eagles]

Fought until the end

@UnibetUS | #SBLVII

[Kelly McCarthy @kmccarthy317]

Love @rihanna & this show!😍🤩😍🤩

[Philadelphia Eagles @Eagles]

Leading at the break

@UnibetUS | #FlyEaglesFly

[Kelly McCarthy @kmccarthy317]

FLOTUS knows. #GoBirds !! 🦅 🏈

[Jill Biden Archived @FLOTUS46Archive]

We’re ready. #FlyEaglesFly

[Lauren McCoy @LaurenMcCoyTV]

HAPPENING NOW: Second line on Canal celebrating Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour coming to the @CaesarsDome in September 🐝

[Kelly McCarthy @kmccarthy317]

Got to put my cool Auntie Kelly shades 😎 on this weekend and these sweet moments are keeping me sane and energized this week!! Best part of a verrry long road trip 🙌🏻🥰

[Spencer Althouse @SpencerAlthouse]

Quinta Brunson cutting off her own Golden Globes speech because she saw Brad Pitt in the audience…a MOOD

“Comedy brings people together. Comedy gives us all the same laugh-- hey, Brad Pitt!”