Comments on: NASA gearing up for 2008

By: Greg Kuperberg

Greg Kuperberg — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 03:53:09 +0000

I commend Jeff Foust for taking the high road in response to this nonsense from Keith Cowing.

By: Keith Cowing

Keith Cowing — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 15:22:13 +0000

I enjoy competition, Al. I never said Jeff’s sites were not useful – quite the contrary. And I hope he continues to operate them. But Futron supports their continuity and Jeff should simply admit that obvious fact instead of dodging it.

By: Al Fansome

Al Fansome — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 14:53:11 +0000

Keith,

Where is this contractor/media line written?

I don’t see the problem, as long as Jeff discloses his dual roles to the affected parties. His employer is supportive.

It sounds like you are jealous over Jeff’s deal with Futron. Since you were obviously well informed about Foust’s deal with Futron, this means you knew that this was Foust’s site, not Futron’s, before you posted. So why post it?

Are you trying to destroy Jeff’s ability to do what he is doing? Is it your goal to make sure that “less” space events get covered and reported on? For example, would you be happy if nobody covered the STA breakfast? Is it your goal to eliminate the competition of SpaceToday.net?

– Al

By: Keith Cowing

Keith Cowing — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 12:53:04 +0000

Jeff you cross this contractor/media line all the time. You have more or less admitted that in your post above – i.e. that you attend these events for reasons other than writing about them. Yes, you go there for Futron. They underwrite your activities.

Another example, you registered for the NASA MAPLD conference last year as media – and did not tell the NASA organizers that you worked for a NASA contractor – despite what was said in the meeting’s media policy: http://klabs.org/mapld05/admin/media_policy.htm (see Section IV)

The organizers only found out about this after the meeting was almost over.

Futron subsidizes what you do on this blog, Jeff. Everyone knows it. You even admitted to me that they liked what you were doing because it kept you (and them) informed.

By: Jeff Foust

Jeff Foust — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:56:55 +0000

Mr. Cowing’s statement above is based on some assumptions, including that the only or even primary reason I attend such events is to write about them here. That assumption is incorrect.

By: Greg Kuperberg

Greg Kuperberg — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 05:32:56 +0000

Nemo: You want less disruption in plans, you need less disruption at the administrator’s seat.

Well, sure. I don’t blame Griffin for reinstating the Hubble mission. As you say, the blame lies elsewhere.

By: Nemo

Nemo — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 04:17:54 +0000

After all, if they cancelled the Hubble mission and then reinstated it, they can’t be right both times.

Just in case you weren’t paying attention at the time, the “they” who cancelled the Hubble mission and the “they” who reinstated it were different people.

You want less disruption in plans, you need less disruption at the administrator’s seat.

By: Greg Kuperberg

Greg Kuperberg — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 01:26:18 +0000

Jeff Foust: Given that NASA's entire budget is a tiny fraction of the budget deficit, and the exploration budget just a fraction of the overall NASA budget, the statement above is a little, well, unbelievable. Yes, but the point missed by this often-repeated argument is that tax cuts, war, and entitlements are pressing down on everything else. As I said, to first approximation the simplest way to balance the general budget is to eliminate non-defense discretionary spending. Why should NASA be one of the exceptions?

By: Jeff Foust

Jeff Foust — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 01:08:10 +0000

Is it too early to talk about the potential candidates’ views on space?

It never seems to be too early, but keep in mind there’s precious little information available now, or will be available for the next couple of years (!) or so. Brownback is something of an outlier because not only does he have a legislative record, he chaired a relevant subcommittee, so there’s a lot of information out there. (Although he’s had a lot less to say since stepping down from the chairmanship of the space subcommittee.) Trying to discern the space policy views of, say, Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani will be much more difficult…

By: Keith Cowing

Keith Cowing — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 01:01:51 +0000

Jeff Foust regularly shows up at these events wearing a name badge that says “Futron” and then writes about the event. I have seen it with my own eyes. He has also admitted that Futron often pays for his seat.