Comments on: More developments in the quest for a NASA administrator http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/ Because sometimes the most important orbit is the Beltway... Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:19:01 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Obama’s NASA Administrator List Thinning With Appointments « Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/comment-page-1/#comment-209692 Obama’s NASA Administrator List Thinning With Appointments « Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:28:29 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=2117#comment-209692 [...] candidate list for the new NASA Administrator (previous being Mike Griffin, who is since working on starting GriffinSpace, LLC) under President [...] [...] candidate list for the new NASA Administrator (previous being Mike Griffin, who is since working on starting GriffinSpace, LLC) under President [...]

]]> By: Doug Lassiter http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/comment-page-1/#comment-207225 Doug Lassiter Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:31:23 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=2117#comment-207225 Now that John Holdren has been confirmed as OSTP Director, one might expect some action on nominating a NASA administrator. I suspect that the Obama administration sees NASA as working especially closely with OSTP, especially in that Earth science and climate change research will be taking a new priority in the agency. So until they had a confirmed director for OSTP, nailing down a name for NASA Administrator might have been hard to do. Now, it's interesting. As of last spring, John Marburger told House Commerce that, with respect to NASA, "probably the highest priority for space operations for this country should be Earth observations," though his own leadership on that front was decidedly mixed. That OSTP-NASA connection will be a lot tighter in the years ahead, to the extent that NASA is seen as a part of the solution to a problem that is an administration science and technology priority. Now that John Holdren has been confirmed as OSTP Director, one might expect some action on nominating a NASA administrator. I suspect that the Obama administration sees NASA as working especially closely with OSTP, especially in that Earth science and climate change research will be taking a new priority in the agency. So until they had a confirmed director for OSTP, nailing down a name for NASA Administrator might have been hard to do.

Now, it’s interesting. As of last spring, John Marburger told House Commerce that, with respect to NASA, “probably the highest priority for space operations for this country should be Earth observations,” though his own leadership on that front was decidedly mixed. That OSTP-NASA connection will be a lot tighter in the years ahead, to the extent that NASA is seen as a part of the solution to a problem that is an administration science and technology priority.

]]> By: anon-y-mous http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/comment-page-1/#comment-207212 anon-y-mous Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:00:07 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=2117#comment-207212 If certain "public servants" keep torpedoing good candidates who don't happen to toe the Shuttle workforce line, Obama should just punt on naming a NASA administrator. Let them go through 2010-2011 under an acting administrator. Let the shuttle wind itself down, let Ares keep running around like a chicken with its head cut off. By the time 2011 rolls around, most of the shuttle workforce will have moved on, possibly to other states. -FWIW If certain “public servants” keep torpedoing good candidates who don’t happen to toe the Shuttle workforce line, Obama should just punt on naming a NASA administrator. Let them go through 2010-2011 under an acting administrator. Let the shuttle wind itself down, let Ares keep running around like a chicken with its head cut off. By the time 2011 rolls around, most of the shuttle workforce will have moved on, possibly to other states.

-FWIW

]]> By: Repugnant Republican http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/comment-page-1/#comment-206738 Repugnant Republican Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:14:23 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=2117#comment-206738 <i>Bring back Mike Griffin</i> You're right, this whole walking upright thing is way overrated. We should right back to knuckle draggin with the republicans, they've left us with such a wonderful legacy. Bring back Mike Griffin

You’re right, this whole walking upright thing is way overrated. We should right back to knuckle draggin with the republicans, they’ve left us with such a wonderful legacy.

]]> By: Brian Koester http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/comment-page-1/#comment-206602 Brian Koester Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:40:28 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=2117#comment-206602 A dark horse? I note that Dr. Alan Stern wikipedia page has a new entry that uses this exact same language as being a possible candidate for the position of NASA Administrator. Maybe we will all be suprised. Here are two links that mention Dr. Stern from Universetoday & space.com http://www.space.com/news/090108-nasa-administrator-candidates.html http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/09/who-will-be-the-next-nasa-administrator/ A dark horse? I note that Dr. Alan Stern wikipedia page has a new entry that uses this exact same language as being a possible candidate for the position of NASA Administrator.

Maybe we will all be suprised.

Here are two links that mention Dr. Stern from Universetoday & space.com

http://www.space.com/news/090108-nasa-administrator-candidates.html

http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/09/who-will-be-the-next-nasa-administrator/

]]> By: lostinspace http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/comment-page-1/#comment-206600 lostinspace Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:49:17 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=2117#comment-206600 I have at least gotten the impression that Bolden may be a good manager with a clear vision. He might be the best choice of the available candidates. I have at least gotten the impression that Bolden may be a good manager with a clear vision. He might be the best choice of the available candidates.

]]> By: vulture4 http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/comment-page-1/#comment-206598 vulture4 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:47:23 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=2117#comment-206598 How about the suggestion made during the campaign that maybe NASA should do work of practical value? Given the state of the economy, is this at least worth a thought? Or should we borrow money from China to send Americans to the moon before China? How about the suggestion made during the campaign that maybe NASA should do work of practical value? Given the state of the economy, is this at least worth a thought? Or should we borrow money from China to send Americans to the moon before China?

]]> By: sc220 http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/comment-page-1/#comment-206250 sc220 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:25:15 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=2117#comment-206250 <i>Charlie Bolden would be a disaster as Administrator - it would allow Yoda (George Abbey) to slink back onto Bldg 1’s ninth floor.</i> This is an interesting comment, since we all know that Abbey is not a fan of Ares or ESAS. Charlie Bolden would be a disaster as Administrator – it would allow Yoda (George Abbey) to slink back onto Bldg 1’s ninth floor.

This is an interesting comment, since we all know that Abbey is not a fan of Ares or ESAS.

]]> By: Charles In Houston http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/comment-page-1/#comment-206249 Charles In Houston Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:12:56 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=2117#comment-206249 Charlie Bolden would be a disaster as Administrator - it would allow Yoda (George Abbey) to slink back onto Bldg 1's ninth floor. We would be back to the days of Machiavellian scheming. Charlie Bolden would be a disaster as Administrator – it would allow Yoda (George Abbey) to slink back onto Bldg 1’s ninth floor. We would be back to the days of Machiavellian scheming.

]]> By: sc220 http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/03/18/more-developments-in-the-quest-for-a-nasa-administrator/comment-page-1/#comment-206242 sc220 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:56:32 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=2117#comment-206242 Two things that concern me about Bolden. One is that he's of the narrow mindset that the only thing that's important about the space program is crewed exploration. I may be jumping to conclusions here, but since he has a long history with human spaceflight, it's possible that he'd have this view. The other is his association with ATK. How seriously will he "look under the hood" with this seeming conflict of interest? Besides retirement of the Shuttle, asking the tough questions about Ares and the ESAS architecture is the most important task for the new Administrator. Two things that concern me about Bolden. One is that he’s of the narrow mindset that the only thing that’s important about the space program is crewed exploration. I may be jumping to conclusions here, but since he has a long history with human spaceflight, it’s possible that he’d have this view.

The other is his association with ATK. How seriously will he “look under the hood” with this seeming conflict of interest? Besides retirement of the Shuttle, asking the tough questions about Ares and the ESAS architecture is the most important task for the new Administrator.

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