Transition team trouble at NASA - December 11, 2008
UPDATE: Griffin has released a statement saying, "This report, largely supported by anonymous sources and hearsay, is simply wrong. ... The transition team's work is too important to become mired in unsupported and anonymous allegations. The President-elect's transition team deserves everyone's complete cooperation."
NASA is already proving problematic for president-elect Barack Obama, according to the Orlando Sentinel’s Write Stuff blog.
The paper says Obama’s transition team have not gone down well with administrator Mike Griffin, who would like to hang onto his job.
When one member of the team, who are meant to smooth the transition from Bush-rule to Obama-rule, told Griffin they were “just trying to look under the hood” Griffin replied:
If you are looking under the hood, then you are calling me a liar. Because it means you don’t trust what I say is under the hood.
A key sticking point appears to be the Constellation program, a replacement for the Space Shuttle. Griffin seems to regard Constellation as his baby and is outraged that Obama would even countenance cutting it.
Over on the NASA Watch blog the ever-acerbic Keith Cowing says, “Mike: everyone seems to have gotten the message - except you. It is time to go.”
One of the comments on Cowing’s blog notes that a betting pool has been started on when Griffin will step down.
Image: Griffin stock photo / NASA
Comments
I've applied for the NASA administrator position...primarily as a mechanism to define a "feasible and realistic" strategic plan to get NASA back to contributing to the nation's economy and prestige. There is no doubt that the Constellation Program will not survive in the Obama administration. However there must be a plan to replace Constellation that keeps NASA's budget revenant...I've proposed that a technology development program is the direction NASA should take and have been seeking support from the aerospace community and congress (see below) for this plan.
I am concerned that we will again get an administrator that will not be able to make the technical and culture changes needed at NASA. I would like to see and would welcome a public debate on how best to direct NASA's future in the Obama administrator. Would you consider endorsing a more open process in deciding NASA’s future?
Don A. Nelson
281-585-8162
See proposed plan at; www.nasaproblems.com
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Letter to Congress
Defending NASA’s Budget
NASA’s $230 billion Constellation Program for developing transportation vehicles to support a 7 day lunar mission will not survive in the Obama administration. The prospect of spending billions more for foreign launch services to space station while our unemployment numbers increase in record numbers is indefensible. It can be expected that unless NASA’s direction is changed their budget will be a target for significant reductions.
To prevent these devastating budget reductions NASA’s programs must be redirected from those of bailout candidates to ones that create economic stimulus.
To that purpose Congress is being requested to support the NASA technology plan outlined on the: www.nasaproblems.com webpage. The plan proposes to transfers the Constellation funds to technology development programs which benefit future space programs and have spin-off technologies for other industries. It also removes the space shuttle from NASA operated to the public sector and redirects that saving to technology development. In addition the plan addresses the NASA management problems that have plagued the agency for decades.
Technology is a key factor for economic recovery…NASA must be a key player. NASA must change and the technology plan is the roadmap for that change. Your support is urgently requested.
Don A. Nelson
Aerospace Consultant
Home/Office 281-585-8162 danelson@wt.net
Note: Mr. Nelson has applied for the NASA administrator position as a mechanism to promote the NASA technology strategic plan to the Obama NASA transition team. Again your support is urgently requested.
Posted by: Don Nelson | December 11, 2008 08:25 PM