Anonymous,

Thank you for pointing that out. Maybe somebody could expand on this point — what was here specific role as “President”?; how long did she serve?; what issues was she confronted with?; and what decisions did she have to make?

Not knowing any of this … I can draw some generalities:

1) Space.com had a “market” problem, in that they did not understand the “market” or “lack thereof”, and their original business plan failed. They quickly adapted, and bought out Space News, to save Lou Dobbs reputation (there were no bankruptcy/failure stories in the news.)

2) Space.com did not have an “investment” problem. Lou Dobbs credibility brought in lots of private financing relatively quickly and easily compared to that which most space startup ventures experience.

So, she probably learned something about “market risk” for a media company. This suggests that she might intuitively understand if a company executive were to say “we need customers”.

Whether she would take any action to make NASA into a better customer, by purchasing more of its goods and services in a “commercial manner”, is different question.

FWIW,

– Al

That’s always the problem for a new administration.

I’d have more reservations about Kathuria. Like Ride, Kathuria has experience heading up an internet startup, but Planetspace’s record in executing commercial space hardware development leaves much to be desired. And unlike Ride, I don’t know of any examples where Kathuria has demonstrated an ability to think critically/strategically about a large, technical organization like NASA. And technically, I’d argue that Ride’s physics background is more relevant to NASA than Kathuria’s medical background.

Of course, when other factors like political acumen/connections, developmental/operational accomplishments, and demonstrated leadership qualities are added to the mix, there’s arguably better candidates, both within and outside NASA ranks, than either Ride or Kathuria.

Of course, all this assumes that the next White House can find anyone with some decent credentials that is actually interested in the job. I think they will have a very tough time doing so given the agency’s current woes.

My 2 cents… FWIW…

NASA needs someone with the demonstrated ability to put good people around them, question them, listen to what they have to say and then act based on what they say.

I’d be interested to understand in what way Sally Ride doesn’t “fit the bill” because she “refuses to face facts but insists that the facts be twisted to fit their vision”. Care to share? That’s a story I haven’t heard.

None of that is necessarily a good resume to be NASA administrator. Though I agree with the point that she isn’t just an astronaut.

Without wanting to weigh in pro or con on Sally Ride for Administrator I cannot imagine how you can make that statement. Ride is a physicist — now a professor at UCSD, and has done some nice research on both laser physics, and I believe high energy astrophysics. She has been one of the most energetic people in educational outreach for space as well. She is Director of CalSpace, served on several influential policy panels and … well, go look it up!

That’s a big “period”, I guess.