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At the VEXAG 2026 meeting in Boulder just now, we've learned that NASA's VERITAS mission has been scheduled for a November 2032 launch. Folks, this is CRAZY good news. Earlier this year we were concerned that NASA would *cancel* VERITAS!

I won't count chickens until we've served them for dinner. The administration has proposed killing both NASA Venus missions twice, so to have the PIs now say everything is hunky-dory does not make me let my guard down.

No, not hunky dory. But for a notional launch date to be given in a public setting is a welcome change, and a big change, relative to even 12 months ago.

I agree. But if the next PBR proposes killing these missions again (or silent killing them), we'll be in a pickle.

Will we? Even under Republican-controlled Senate and House NASA's "normal" budget was sustained (more or less). Sure, OMB will try its usual fuckery, but there's even less chance the next PBR flies with one (or both) chambers going to the Dems.

You've suddenly become optimistic? Are you Belgian? (Just kidding, I know you're Scottish based on your accent.) I think that programs that have the threat of cancellation hanging over them over a long period of time do not get the best results from their people.