Transition Team Update

MSFC gets ear of next White House, Huntsville Times

“Rex Geveden, president of Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc. and a former Marshall deputy director, along with Shar Hendrick, a former Marshall liaison to Congress, met with transition team members in Washington.”

Editor’s note: One of the DIRECT guys is supposed to have met with the Transition Team at NASA to talk about their Powerpoint rocket as well. Word has it Buzz was going with them. Contrary to rumoured intentions, the job of the NASA Transition Team is not to pass judgement on everything at NASA – but rather, to collect data. At some point, someone will ask if they have heard of one engineering idea or another – or heard the concerns of one field center vs another. Or paid attention to a prominent ego or vocal advocacy group. They cannot listen to everyone, but it is worth their time to try and do their best in that regard such that the largest population feels that they have had a shot at providing input and advice.

It is the Transition Team’s job to have covered all the bases – even if some of the input is of marginal or mostly pro forma value in the grander scheme of things. If you look at Change.gov you will see that the Obama effort is erring on the side of being inclusive and transparent. Contrary to its popularly rumoured closed door activities, the Transition Team members onsite at NASA are not making engineering or programatic decisions. Nor are they selecting the next NASA Administrator. They are collecting data for others to use. The really hard work – by others – starts on 20 Jan 2009.

Previous Transition Team Updates

Editor’s update: Oh no: all the DIRECT fanboys are upset with me again – including bodily function puns. (Sigh). Others are throwing hissy fits about how awful I am when it comes to their pet rocket – yet at least a dozen reader posts here today mention DIRECT and/or Jupiter. Oh well. I certainly hope they conducted their discourse in a more adult fashion with the Transition Team.

NASA Renegades Pitch Obama Team New Post-Shuttle Plan, Popular Mechanics

“We were received well, but they were very clear they are offering no opinions at this point,” says Ross Tierney, a collectible space model kit designer from Florida who presented the alternative plan. “To get what is essentially a presidential level meeting is an honor and privilege for us. We hope something comes of it.” …. During today’s meeting, the Jupiter Direct team presented a copy of the February issue of Popular Mechanics that profiles the origin and spread of their alternative idea.”

Editor’s update: a “collectible space model kit designer” made the presentation? They couldn’t even find a real engineer? Oh well, now the Transition Team can check that box off their list.