NASA Removes Comic Books Depicting Female Astronauts from Its Online Platforms
In a recent development, NASA has removed graphic novels titled "First Woman: NASA's Promise for Humanity" and "First Woman: Expanding Our Universe" from its website. The graphic novels, which featured female astronauts, were available on the NASA site for years before their sudden disappearance.
The removal of these graphic novels aligns with the Trump administration's stance against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. In January, NASA moved to terminate diversity programs, and last month, employees were informed that they could no longer display pronouns in their online profiles.
According to reports, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk, has been slashing headcount at the federal government since its creation by executive order on Trump's first day in office. This week, the agency terminated $420 million in contracts, according to the DOGE.
Keith Cowing of NASA Watch reported the removal of the graphic novels from NASA's website. It is unclear whether the removal was facilitated by Cowing's own posts on NASA Watch. The removal of these graphic novels has been a topic of discussion on NASA Watch.
It remains unclear how drastically DOGE, under Musk's leadership, will alter operations at the nation's space agency. The White House, during Trump's second term, stated that the government is committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect. However, the removal of certain content related to diversity initiatives and graphic novels suggests a shift in the agency's focus.
NASA's Press Secretary Bethany Stevens did not respond to a request for comment regarding the removal of the graphic novels. A note from NASA Watch mentions that "you can still read NASA's deleted 'first woman' graphic novels," suggesting that while content might have been removed, copies or references to it might still be available.
The main landing page dedicated to Callie Rodriguez's story as the fictional first woman to walk on the Moon on NASA's website now yields a 404 error, further fuelling speculation about the agency's stance on diversity and inclusion.
References
[1] NASA Removes Diversity and Inclusion Resources from Its Website
[4] NASA's Deleted 'First Woman' Graphic Novels
[5] NASA's Deleted 'First Woman' Graphic Novels, Still Available
- The graphic novels 'First Woman: NASA's Promise for Humanity' and 'First Woman: Expanding Our Universe,' which feature female astronauts, have been removed from NASA's website, sparking discussions about the agency's stance on diversity and inclusion.
- Keith Cowing of NASA Watch reported the removal of these graphic novels, but it's unknown if his posts on NASA Watch facilitated the decision.
- Meanwhile, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under Elon Musk's leadership, has been accused of slashing headcount at the federal government and terminating contracts, as seen in the recent $420 million cut.
- The White House, during Trump's second term, asserted that the government is committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect. However, the removal of diversity-related content and graphic novels like 'First Woman' suggests a possible shift in NASA's focus.
- Despite the removal from the main landing page, a note from NASA Watch indicates that 'First Woman' graphic novels can still be read, albeit not directly on NASA's site.
- The main page dedicated to Callie Rodriguez's story as the fictional first woman to walk on the Moon now yields a 404 error, adding fuel to speculations about NASA's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Reference(s):[1] NASA Removes Diversity and Inclusion Resources from Its Website[4] NASA's Deleted 'First Woman' Graphic Novels[5] NASA's Deleted 'First Woman' Graphic Novels, Still Available
