I have received an official copy of one of the many memos going around regarding EPO cuts. From it I learned (and no, I’m not going to leak it): 1) Grants are currently to continue as planned, 2) While most EPO activities are currently *suspended* they *are not cancelled*, 3) Everything else is a bit muddled and confused but we do know that we’ll be reviewed on a case by case basis and there will be mechanisms to apply to get projects re-animated (not the right word, but the one I’m going to use), 4) we will learn more next week.

This is a community. I fully recognize that anything that effects the funding of this project and it’s staff effects the entire community. This means I will work to first notify my staff of what I know, and then (as I can without leaking non-public documents) I will work to keep you up to date as well. I am hoping that you will also help us by helping us find potential funders, or by encouraging donations.

At this point, I believe CQX will not lose all its NASA funding – many of our educational programs are funded through a NASA ROSES EPOESS grant.  I am worried about what “not all” will entail because our programming staff is funded on mission monies, and it is unclear how existing funding will be effected and if renewal of funding will be possible as planned.

I’m looking at multiple fundraisers. When I know more I will post a new blog post. I expect no more updates this week. While I’m less worried about CosmoQuest than I was yesterday, it is clear that many good people in the NASA EPO community are deeply in jeopardy. I continue to encourage you to help us seek donations so that I can recover as needed from any cuts we incur, and, as additional funding allows, work to contract people who do lose their jobs to help us build new and amazing things for CQX. I’m hoping you will help me build a safety net for our community.