We are ceding space dominance
Dorothy, a former NASA astronaut, describes how experienced employees at NASA (and other agencies like NOAA) have been leaving due to post-COVID return-to-office policies and buyouts. Unlike typical retirements, many of these departures happened before individuals could pass on their knowledge, leading to a “brain drain.” She worries this loss of expertise weakens the pipeline of mentorship and inspiration for the next generation, threatening the future strength of U.S. research institutions. She emphasizes that since the moon landing in 1969, the U.S. has been a global leader in science and exploration, but these setbacks risk ceding ground to other advancing nations.