posted 03-20-2009 09:56 PM               

On edit: my bad... the U.S. Space command no longer exists, it was absorbed by the U.S. Strategic Command.

posted 03-20-2009 10:03 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Mercury7:
If the news story about absorbing NASA in to the DoD is true...

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posted 04-04-2009 07:57 PM               

"However, (Speaker of the House Nancy) Pelosi did have good things to say about former U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, the Texas Democrat who once represented the Johnson Space Center area and has been mentioned as a candidate to become the next NASA chief under Obama.

posted 04-07-2009 10:30 PM               

Former Rep. Nick Lampson said Tuesday he is no longer a contender for the $177,000-a-year NASA administrator post.

The Stafford Democrat, who lost his seat in a predominantly Republican district in southeastern Texas last fall, told the Houston Chronicle that White House officials had “not made any kind of offer” after approaching him about the post.

“I understand this (selection) is not easy. It is a slow, deliberate process,” Lampson said in a telephone interview. “But at the same time, I feel comfortable in moving on with my life. That is what I’ve done.”

Lampson said he had met with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, with whom he served in Congress. Lampson, noting he was not undergoing vetting or background checks, said the former congressional colleague did not discuss the NASA post at their last meeting.

The White House had no comment on the development, a spokeswoman said.

posted 04-08-2009 10:58 AM               

Also, a commenter on the NASA Watch blog claimed that Obama offered the Administrator post to an unidentified person a few weeks back but the person turned it down for personal reasons. (This is also in the rumor category).

posted 04-09-2009 11:03 PM               

A person extremely close to Lampson has told the Orlando Sentinel that the Houston Chronicle misinterpreted remarks by the former Houston representative about being ready to "move on" with his life as meaning he was not interested in the NASA job.

"Nick Lampson is still in the running despite earlier reports from the Houston Chronicle," the person, who is very familiar with the situation, said.

posted 04-24-2009 08:41 PM               

Lori Garver, former NASA Associate Administrator of Policy and Plans, and space policy adviser to Democratic politicians - who was expected to be named the new NASA Administrator earlier in the week according to sources - will lead a major content review of the Constellation Program, in an attempt to find a way forward to get the schedule "back" into the March, 2015 timeframe for the debut manned flight of Orion.

posted 04-27-2009 07:38 PM               

After 100 days of the Obama presidency, the space agency faces critical decisions. The delay in the appointment of an Administrator raises concerns among space advocates that space is a very low priority on the Obama agenda.

posted 04-27-2009 07:45 PM               

Nelson is a NASA supporter, but his interests are clear: he wants to see the gap erased by having the shuttle program extended so as to keep everyone hired at Kennedy Space Center. His urgent call for a NASA Administrator is because without one, the shuttle program will be ending in 2010, and the deadline to reverse that decision is coming up quickly (May 1).

But even if President Obama were to name a candidate tomorrow, it is unlikely that person would take office until the summer, and that assumes a smooth confirmation process. The best Sen. Nelson can hope is that the cost wouldn't be too high to turn the tide.

posted 05-14-2009 09:11 PM               

Former astronaut Charles F. Bolden Jr. will meet with President Obama in the Oval Office on Monday morning and likely will be appointed the new NASA administrator, a senior administration official told NBC News on Thursday.

If he is chosen as expected, Bolden, a veteran of four spaceflights with more than 680 hours in Earth orbit, would be the first African-American appointed to NASA's top post. Bolden retired from the Marine Corps in 2003 as a major general.

...the administration official discussed Bolden's likely appointment with NBC News on condition of anonymity because there was no official authorization to speak about it publicly.

posted 05-15-2009 05:04 PM               

QUESTION: And on Monday, Robert, will there be a NASA administrator announcement?

GIBBS: I think you know that the President will meet with somebody that he hopes will -- wants to meet with somebody about filling the important role of future NASA administrator.

QUESTION: Hopeful...

GIBBS: He will meet with them on -- on Monday, and we'll have -- we'll see how that goes.

posted 05-15-2009 06:06 PM               

However, reached by phone May 15, Bolden told Space News he had not been asked to take the job and had no plans to meet with White House officials to discuss it.

"I am hearing the rumors, and as far as I know there is no truth in the rumors," Bolden said. "You can't say 'yes' or 'no' when you haven't had a conversation. I haven't had that conversation and I don't have one scheduled."

posted 05-15-2009 10:33 PM               

If he is to be the nominee, I have two concerns.

First, the NASA Administrator's job is in large part political -- dealing with the White House, Congress, and public to obtain the resources NASA needs. I don't know whether Bolden has the political skills to change a large, fossilized organization and to keep it funded.

Second, I am concerned about Bolden's close business and personal association with George Abbey, former JSC director and skilled bureaucratic in-fighter. Like a cat with nine lives, Abbey keeps finding a way to come back at NASA. For a couple of critical portraits of Abbey, see the book "Dragonfly" and Mike Mullane's book "Riding Rockets."

posted 05-16-2009 12:19 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by DChudwin:
If he is to be the nominee, I have two concerns.

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posted 05-19-2009 12:03 PM               

White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said Tuesday that Obama met with Charles Bolden, a former shuttle commander and retired Marine major general.

The administration isn't expected to announce a new NASA chief immediately.

posted 05-20-2009 06:26 PM               

President Obama: "We're soon going to have a new NASA administrator. I can't disclose it to you because I've got to have some hoopla on the announcement back here on Earth. But I can assure you that it's a high priority of mine to restore that sense of wonder that space can provide and to make sure we've got a strong sense of mission, not just within NASA but to the country as a whole."

Scott Altman: "Just so we're sure, the new administrator's not any of us on the flight deck right now, is it?"

President Obama: (laughs) "I'm not going to give you any hints."

Scott Altman: "Thank you very much, fair enough, sir."

posted 05-21-2009 02:59 PM               

Following Senate hearing on NASA's 2010 budget, U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski took a couple of questions about the possible nomination for former astronaut Charles Bolden to the position of NASA Administrator. Here's what the Maryland Democrat had to say about Bolden, who met with President Obama on Tuesday.

"Life is an unfolding drama. We are looking forward for the NASA Administrator. We think that Mr. Bolden has a very hefty background. He has a compelling personal story and if the president nominates him, we will be good to go. Getting through the vetting process seems to be as hard as getting out of orbit and staying in orbit."

And when asked whether Bolden's past would create a conflict-of-interest, here's what she said: "We'll wait until we get the nomination," she said.

posted 05-23-2009 04:57 AM               

President Barack Obama will name former astronaut Charles Bolden as NASA administrator as early as Saturday, according to three congressional sources. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the retired Marine Corps general will be the first African-American to head the agency.

The timing, the sources said, is keyed to the landing of space shuttle Atlantis, which remained in orbit Friday because of bad weather but will return today or Sunday. Several members of Congress were called Friday and briefed by the White House, which would not comment for this article.

The president also will announce that his campaign space adviser, Lori Garver, will be Bolden's deputy, the sources said.

Neither Bolden nor Garver could be reached for comment.