236 - Juicy Red Fruits (with Casey Dreier)

In this extended episode of Off-Nominal, hosts Jake and Anthony welcome Casey Dreier to discuss the historic Artemis II mission, the emotional impact of witnessing humanity's return to the moon, and the controversial 2027 White House budget request that proposes a 23% cut to NASA, including slashing science funding in half and canceling 54 missions. The conversation begins with a reflective discussion on the stunning imagery from the lunar flyby, particularly the debate over whether the Orion view of Earth and moon constitutes a true eclipse, and evolves into a passionate critique of the scientific value of human spaceflight versus the need for dedicated, high-precision scientific missions. Casey argues that the current budget prioritizes political symbolism over real scientific progress, creating a dangerous 'patina of science' that displaces essential research. He warns that the budget’s inefficiency and lack of transparency will waste years of planning and undermine NASA’s long-term mission, despite strong bipartisan support for science funding. The episode closes with a call to action for listeners to participate in the Planetary Society’s Day of Action on April 19–20 to defend NASA science.