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Report that Obama decided on space policy may be premature , Orlando Sentinel
"A report by a respected science publication that said President Barack Obama has decided on a new space policy for NASA may be premature, according to Write Stuff sources. The report, which was posted Thursday night on the "Science Insider" blog at the web site of the journal Science, quoted unnamed sources saying that in a meeting on Wednesday with NASA chief Charlie Bolden, the president decided to add an extra $1 billion to NASA's budget."
Keith's note: It would seem that Science Magazine jumped the gun a bit. As is the case with the Orlando Sentinel, NASA Watch sources report that the story published in Science is incomplete and, in some cases, is just plain wrong. Specifically it asserts that a final decision has been made as to what NASA will be told to do. That is not the case. But it is likely that NASA will be getting a budget bump of upwards of $1 billion.
After last week's Obama/Bolden meeting, NASA is on the hook from White House to provide additional information between now and January to be factored into the final decision making process. Among other things, these decisions include the fate of Ares 1 and the new path that may be chosen regarding launch vehicle utilization and development. Moreover, sources report that the impetus for this "leak" was someone in or around the White House - someone who is not necessarily all that thrilled with certain options that are on the table. So, in classic Washington style, they leaked someone else's potentially good news - but did so early - and the results were counterproductive.
You can be certain that neither the White House or the 9th Floor at NASA HQ are remotely thrilled that this stuff is leaking out this soon given that some final number and policy crunching needs to be done. Having to bat down stories - accurate and inaccurate - serves only to distract them from that process. Given that there is lingering concern in some quarters about NASA's capabilities, seeing this stuff dribble out - regardless of the source(s) works against the agency as it strives to make its case to President Obama.
That said, having a high profile meeting at the White House just before Christmas and then expecting everyone to stay silent until the FY 2011 budget comes out in February is unrealistic - and somewhat naive in this day and age since no one can keep their mouth shut any more.
As always, stay tuned.
When I broke the story of the VSE in SpaceRef in October 2003, my source was supportive of the whole idea of a new mission for NASA. While I can't say the source was a spacer, I can say the idea of what eventually became the VSE was backed ethusiastically by some in the Bush WH. But not all. As Keith and I wrote in our book "New Moon Rising" the biggest opponent to the whole idea was Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield, who was an opponent of Sean O'Keefe's rise within the hiarchy and jealous of his relationships with both Bush and Cheney. Our source(s) at that point worried that NASA might be cut way back following the release of the Geiman report. Of course many at OMB then were, as now, highly critical of NASA. How did SOK overcome this opposition? He carefully built a consensus of support (including Colin Powell's deputy Rich Armitage)within the deputy's committee, allowed the CIA's indifference to be played as support (they basically didn't care one way or the other), and played his trump card at the end: the Veep. In other words, O'Keefe gamed the system to NASA's favor, something for which he didn't get much credit.
Today, however, it looks like the WH source for Lawler's piece is playing him and trying to put roadblocks in front of the support for NASA. Sure looks like, IMHO Obama and his minnions are typical politicians, and not capable of walking on water as many believed in the 2008 campaign. These smart folks with little governing experience are going to have to learn how Washington works fast if they are to prevail against the opposition to come, likely from both parties.
Let's wish them luck in sailing against the wind...