Comments on: Political tensions and the search for a new NASA administrator http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator Because sometimes the most important orbit is the Beltway... Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:35:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.38 By: Space Politics » And then there were four http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/#comment-185746 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:52:38 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1981#comment-185746 […] who might those four (or several) be? If reports like the article Saturday in the Wall Street Journal are to be believed, Lester Lyles is likely one of them. So may be Jonathan Scott Gration, the sure […]

]]> By: New Contender for NASA Administrator: Ret. USAF Gen. Lester L. Lyles « Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/#comment-184975 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:04:47 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1981#comment-184975 […] Early murmurs surfaced at NASA Watch, and culminated in an article from the Wall Street Journal (with some excellent additional coverage to be found over at Space Politics). […]

]]> By: Rand Simberg http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/#comment-184927 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:42:21 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1981#comment-184927 Unless we can convert Marshall people to building propellant depots.

It makes a lot more sense than having them build windmills.

]]> By: Al Fansome http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/#comment-184389 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:43:00 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1981#comment-184389 Rand,

I agree with you that the “heavy lift” recommendation was misguided.

I think it will be difficult to totally eliminate the “heavy lift” initiative, as the the Senator from MSFC is a power player.

FWIW,

– Al

]]> By: Rand Simberg http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/#comment-184368 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:09:50 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1981#comment-184368 I agree with the point on the destination, but one of the Aldridge Commission recommendations that I thought misguided was the notion of an intrinsic need for heavy lift. I think that I’ve at least started to bring Paul around on that.

]]> By: Al Fansome http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/#comment-184330 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:06:52 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1981#comment-184330 SIMBERG: I would hope, though, regardless, that other former commission members (e.g., Paul Spudis) might be able to influence him.

I hope that Lyles might listen to other former commission members such as Bob Walker, before listening to Spudis.

Walker is more focused on “space commerce”, or the “how”. Spudis is more focused on the destination. As long as the destination is beyond LEO, the means is much more important.

Quite a few people have been talking up going to the asteroids instead of the Moon in the near term. That would be fine by me, as long as they shift the strategy for getting there.

– Al

]]> By: Major Tom http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/#comment-184042 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:26:25 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1981#comment-184042 “Do we know what General Lyles’ thinking or positions were on the Commission? It was the product of a committee.”

He and every other member of the commission agreed to and signed their name to the specific wording of the report with no dissenting opinions. That’s no guarantee that Lyles paid careful attention to every statement and hasn’t changed (won’t change) his mind on key topics since then. But in term of general thrust, he agreed to the commission’s recommendations at one point in time and hopefully still does.

“I would hope, though, regardless, that other former commission members (e.g., Paul Spudis) might be able to influence him.”

For human space flight programs, the NASA Administrator certainly could do (and has done) worse.

FWIW…

]]> By: Rand Simberg http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/#comment-183929 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:14:25 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1981#comment-183929 I hope the same “Lyles” with the same attitude and solutions that showed up in the Aldridge Commission shows up in the Administrator’s suite, i.e., that he hasn’t changed his thinking or positions.

Do we know what General Lyles’ thinking or positions were on the Commission? It was the product of a committee. I would hope, though, regardless, that other former commission members (e.g., Paul Spudis) might be able to influence him.

]]> By: Charles In Houston http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/#comment-183789 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:58:31 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1981#comment-183789 Someone is going to get this job – hopefully it will be SOON. As it is, we are stuck as various Centers battle it out, various programs keep working (but at less than full speed), and time inexorably passes. If we are gonna fly the Shuttle let’s get on with it. If we are gonna fly Connie/Orion let’s get on with it.
We need a budget and a plan!

]]> By: Major Tom http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/02/07/political-tensions-and-the-search-for-a-new-nasa-administrator/#comment-183754 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:02:07 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1981#comment-183754 “It is the same Lyles who was on the Aldridge Commission.”

Right — I was just stating (however clumsily) that I hope the same “Lyles” with the same attitude and solutions that showed up in the Aldridge Commission shows up in the Administrator’s suite, i.e., that he hasn’t changed his thinking or positions.

FWIW…

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