Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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Star Wars
December 11, 2008 12:16 PM
Barack Obama does not need any headaches from Michael Griffin. He has enough because of the economy and Rod Blagojevich.
But Griffin, the head of NASA, has made it apparent that (1) he'd like to stay on the job, and (2) he's convinced the agency's new Ares I rocket, meant to replace space shuttles as the way to launch astronauts into orbit, will work, despite budget and engineering problems.
Robert Block and Mark K. Matthews of the Orlando Sentinel report today that Griffin is already making enemies in Camp Obama. Take a look at their piece HERE.
"Griffin is not cooperating with President-elect Barack Obama's transition team, is obstructing its efforts to get information and has told its leader that she is 'not qualified' to judge his rocket program, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.
"In a heated 40-minute conversation last week with Lori Garver, a former NASA associate administrator who heads the space transition team, a red-faced Griffin demanded to speak directly to Obama, according to four witnesses.
"In addition, Griffin is scripting NASA employees and civilian contractors on what they can tell the transition team and has warned aerospace executives not to criticize the agency's moon program, sources said."
The Sentinel reporters say Griffin blew up when the Obama team began to ask too many questions: "they asked the agency, among other things, to quantify how much could be saved by canceling Ares I. Though they also asked what it would take to accelerate the program, the fact that the team could even consider scrapping the program was enough to spur Griffin and his supporters into action.
"According to industry officials, Griffin started calling heads of companies working for NASA, demanding that they either tell the Obama team that they support Constellation or refrain from talking about alternatives.
"The companies, worried that Griffin may remain and somehow punish them if they ignore his wishes, have by and large complied."
Is this a way to make friends? The Sentinel quotes John Logsdon, a George Washington University professor who served on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board: "Mike is dead-on convinced that the current approach to the program is the right one. And Lori's job is to question that for Mr. Obama. The Obama team is not going to walk in and take Mike's word for it."
---------------------
Update: Griffin's reply
NASA has provided a response to the Sentinel story, and Keith Cowing has posted it on his NASA Watch site:
"A recent report in the Orlando Sentinel suggested that NASA is not cooperating with members of President-elect Obama's transition team currently working at Headquarters. This report, largely supported by anonymous sources and hearsay, is simply wrong.
"I would like to reiterate what I have stated in a previous email to all NASA Officials: we must make every effort to "lean forward," to answer questions promptly, openly and accurately.
"We are fully cooperating with transition team members. Since mid-November, the agency has provided 414 documents and 185 responses to 191 requests. There are six outstanding responses, and the agency will meet the deadline for those queries.
"Also, we strongly urge full and free cooperation by companies performing work for NASA. I am appalled by any accusations of intimidation, and encourage a free and open exchange of information with the contractor community.
"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.
"Michael D. Griffin
Administrator"
December 11, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (22)
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I just have to say, a mass that weighs one ton on the surface of Earth weighs 1/6 of a ton on the moon, just like a pound here weighs 1/6 of a pound there. Anyway, NASA is not trying to make a 60's style capsule,and they are not trying to remake the Saturn V. NASA would prefer something which could move a larger crew and have the capability to land on more than just the moon. Also, it would be nice for it to have more computing power than the average laptop.
NASA will be getting approximately 20 billion dollars in total funding this year. On the other hand,over 100 billion was just cut from Obama's now approximately 900 billion dollar stimulus package in a matter of days. I'm certain that in a democracy,trimming a few more billion out of that would be far more easily and more rightly done than removing funding that was approved by overwhelming majority with strong bipartizan support.
Posted by: simple country mathematician | Feb 9, 2009 3:45:18 AM
I wonder if anyone ever reads these, There are a couple of good ideas here that I haven't heard discussed before.
A rocket is great for payloads and possibly larger crews, but I agree with a few of the posters, that a revamped space shuttle would be another excellent program to pursue.
Steve Bass, I read almost the exact same statement 16 years ago, after the last Bush left office. Lets hope I don't ever have to hear that said again(jeb?? I hear they're on the way to paraguay anyway) ;)
Posted by: bassplyr98 | Feb 10, 2009 9:29:22 PM
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