NASA Watch
March 20, 2026
NASA Front Door — NASAWatch.com
Keith’s note: An interesting ‘Notice of new information collection‘ from NASA appeared in the Federal Register this morning about the “NASA Front Door”. It is not totally clear as to when or how this will be implemented – i.e. atop NASA.gov, a new part thereof, or something else. A “NASA Strategic Plan” is mentioned – but which one are they talking about? NASA has not actually had a current ‘strategic plan’ for a while and they are usually not a ‘plan’ or ‘strategic’ when a document with that name is posted online. Also unclear is whether PAO/OCOMM will do this or some other TBD organization. It certainly sounds interesting – but NASA has a really spotty track record when it comes to understanding the audiences it should be serving outside of its front door and how to serve them. Just sayin’. Update: NASA Goddard and Johnson have links that to pages that include ‘front door’. That’s fine, but where does the agency as a whole tell all of its audiences what it can do for them – without a geographical bias focusing on one center but not others? Goddard is being cut in half, yet makes no mention of that downsizing i.e. capability to do things. Federal Registry Summary below.
“The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is committed to effectively performing the Agency’s communication function in accordance with the Space Act Section 203 (a)(3) to “provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof,” and to enhance public understanding of, and participation in, the nation’s aeronautical and space program in accordance with the NASA Strategic Plan.”
“The NASA Front Door (NFD) is an online/web-based tool that will serve as a centralized digital hub to help facilitate engagement between individuals, organizations, and the workforce of NASA, providing personalized support, guidance, and efficient access to NASA’s extensive programs, opportunities, resources, and expertise. The information collection will consist of general contact information, interest/intake information and when appropriate, demographic information as part of registration profile. The information will be reviewed by NASA representatives to route individuals, organizations and the workforce of NASA to relevant NASA services, opportunities, resources, and/or expertise”.
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