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Commercialization

Flyby Appearance by Charlie Bolden at COTS Event

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
November 13, 2013
Filed under ,

NASA Hails Success of Commercial Space Program Private Space Station Resupply Underway, Plans Readied for Astronauts
“NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Wednesday hailed the success of the agency’s public-private partnership with American companies to resupply the International Space Station and announced the next phase of contracting with U.S. companies to transport astronauts is set to begin next week.”
Keith’s note: The only “news” from this morning’s webcast is that NASA will be issuing an RFP next week for commercial crew services. Despite a media advisory highlighting Bolden’s participation in this morning’s event, Bolden read some prepared remarks, posed for photos with company reps who got NASA awards, and then disappeared. There was no opportunity for media to ask him questions – all in keeping with PAO’s “hide Charlie” strategy.

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.

11 responses to “Flyby Appearance by Charlie Bolden at COTS Event”

  1. Andrew French says:
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    Well – can you blame them?

  2. Anonymous says:
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    Only a handful of reporters, and none from mainstream news media, on hand shows the level of their interest. Bolden’s cameo complete with prepared script is a symptom of NASA’s lowly status.

    • buzzlighting says:
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      Bolden is told what to say by Obama if ever try to support CCiCAP program over SLS he be severly punished or fired from NASA. I know Commercial crew program way cheaper than SLS program.

    • buzzlighting says:
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      Bolden is told what to say by Obama if ever try to support CCiCAP program over SLS he be severly punished or fired from NASA. I know Commercial crew program cost alot cheaper than SLS program if Ameican people found out commercial crew affordable over SLS.

  3. Rocky J says:
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    Another commenter was asking about Bigelow at an event yesterday. There is no mention of them in the SpaceRef story. Or did Bigelow share another event with NASA?

    I question whether NASA HQ keeps or could keep their administrator on a “short leash” as you describe it but not in so many words. Bolden has an endless series of events and meetings to attend. I would rather conspire by saying that his brief attendance and speech to the COTS program ceremony was an indicator of his self-interest. To play up COTS is to effectively play down SLS and Orion. Sure the latter are meant only as an emergency backup to ISS deliveries but with more visibility one gives Commercial Crew (COTS), the question looms bigger and brighter – why not replace SLS and Orion with commercial alternatives? Abandoning SLS (maybe Orion too) would be in the best interest of NASA and the American taxpayer but is not what Bolden supports.

    It was not clear when CxP started and was just on the horizon when SLS/Orion replaced it, but now it is clear that a commercial cost effective alternative to SLS exists. NASA should end SLS and turn efforts to creating inter-planetary manned spacecraft – habitats for long duration missions. And secondly, develop the propulsion for Earth escape, interplanetary travel and return.

    • Andrew French says:
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      The NASA bureacracy and traditional aerospace contractors (which Charlie represents) just want to build big things in house (SLS/Orion). They don’t care about sustainability or innovation or all of the buzz words they repeating from the Administration and commercial community. Just saying those words related to SLS/Orion doesn’t mean anything. Gerst can say it is $400-500M a launch, but that doesn’t make it true. After spending $30B to develop it over 10 years, this monster is still $3B a year and will launch every other year at best. Do the math.

  4. jamesmuncy says:
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    In defense of Charlie, I am glad he credited the George W. Bush Administration with much of COTS’ success.

    • kcowing says:
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      Bolden was reading from prepared comments that someone else wrote. He is either unwilling or unable – or both – to interact with the news media on issues that are important to the agency and this Administration. I give him a D- because he manages to make it to work every day.

      • Robert Clark says:
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        That last was a bit harsh.

        What is it now that has changed so he is less accessible? Certainly, Garver did most of the news media interaction, but Bolden at least did some. Why is it now he won’t do any?
        If it is simply because Garver left, then there are three more years in this administration. Maybe NASA does need a deputy to deal with the media then.

        Bob Clark

      • Rocky J says:
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        Yeah, buzzlighting, others say the same. NASA administrators are picked by the White House and have a forced allegiance. If one references the W. Post interview of Bolden, one doesn’t get the warm fuzzy that our present one has much capability of speaking independently. Ok, you might say that when he has, he has been chided. Whether its his own, the White House or some committee writing his script, this administrator continues to support SLS and likely will until he resigns or until SLS becomes a real live 500 lb gorilla. Realistically, present working conditions between congress, white house, NASA HQ are stuck until political changes in 2016. SLS will likely continue into 2017 but new leaders will have a chance to again erase the slate and try to do the right thing for HEOMD and NASA as a whole.

  5. Rocky J says:
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    Bolden has a busy schedule and I do not think it is so much a spoon feeding or control of his public words. In general, I think Commercial Crew is downplayed because any expressed support or enthusiasm plays into the potential to replace SLS (maybe Orion too) with a commercial alternative. COTS is not a replacement of SLS but since CxP and now SLS, a commercial alternative is now becoming available for heavy lift. Bolden and others in the top echelons of HQ do not support the idea of replacing SLS with a commercial rocket. Not only will COTS make ISS destined flights cheaper, it also underscores that the protracted and costly development of SLS (Ares to SLS), opened a window for a commercial alternative. The lack of reuse and cost of maintaining an infrequently flown heavy lifter, will drain NASA’s limited resources, cost taxpayers and delay development of the deep space manned missions we hope to someday see.