Editor’s note: NASA is expecting to get the ‘passback’ of its FY 2007 budget submission back from OMB any day now. Traditionally, NASA sends the budget over to OMB sooner – usually in October/early November – such that the ‘passback’ happens just before Thanksgiving. Traditionally, someone at NASA is pouring over budget charts while their turkey gets cold. This year things were delayed by a few weeks. All of this […]
The New NASA Advisory Council Meets – At Last. But Something Is MissingThe newly reconfigured NASA Advisory Council met today at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. This was the first time that the NAC had met in a year – and was also the first time it met with Mike Griffin as NASA Administrator. But there is one glaring – and unforgivable omission in the panel’s composition. […]
Shana Dale Sworn in As NASA Deputy AdministratorShana Dale was sworn in today as NASA’s 12th deputy administrator at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. Before coming to NASA, Dale was deputy director for Homeland and National Security for the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
NRC Report: Review of NASA Plans for the International Space Station“The panel saw no evidence of an integrated resource utilization plan for use of the ISS in support of the Exploration Missions. Presentations that covered some elements of criteria and processes for determining priorities for utilization of ISS for different exploration missions demonstrated poor definition of those criteria and processes. In particular, the materials presented to the panel did not […]
NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 28 November 2005“At ~8:00am EST, CDR McArthur supported a PAO/TV event, downlinking a “Top 10” list for the “David Letterman Show” on CBS.”
NASA OIG: NASA’s Most Serious Management and Performance Challenges“The NASA Administrator testified on November 3, 2005, before the House Science Committee concerning a $3 billion to $5 billion shortfall in funding the Shuttle through 2010. Such a shortfall could also impact NASA’s ability to meet its accelerated timeframe for the CEV and to meet ISS requirements. These budgetary pressures may not only impact the ability to execute programs within desired […]
Marshall eager to update its 1960s look, Huntsville Times“Cramer said he will continue to fight for more NASA construction money, “but there will be tougher budget battles” in the future. “There is poison in the air when it comes to the budget,” Cramer said. “It’s going to become harder and harder to fund projects in the near future, and I believe there may be a time soon when we have […]
Large Budgetary and Personnel Cuts Lay Ahead for NASA Goddard, GSFC“According to a briefing given just before the Thanksgiving holiday a large budget decrease – and large job cuts – lay ahead for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center located in Greenbelt, Maryland. “There will be 500-1,000 fewer jobs in Maryland” Weiler told the attendees.”
Letter regarding Center Buyouts from NASA Adminstrator to Officials-in-Charge of Headquarters Offices and Directors, NASA Centers“During the coming months, we will continue these efforts, including this final buyout opportunity, to reduce the need for a reduction in force (RIF) at our Centers. In June 2006, I will assess our progress and decide at that time whether or not the agency will conduct a RIF in early fiscal year 2007.”
Editor’s update: According to Elon Musk at SpaceX: on November 26, 2005 at 5:11 p.m. PST: “The launch is scrubbed for today.As I warned, the likelihood of an all new rocket launching from an all new launch pad on its first attempt is low. What happened was that an auxiliary liquid oxygen (LOX) fill tank had a manual vent valve incorrectly set to vent.The time it took to correct the […]