Editor’s note: Word has it that Mike Griffin intends to replace ARC center director Scott Hubbard with Brig. Gen. Simon P. Worden (Ret.). Apparently, Hubbard has gotten folks at HQ annoyed by his constant defense of his workforce while HQ slashes away at life sciences (and other programs) and threatens RIFs. Pete Worden (an astronomer) is a friend of Griffin’s and has a reputation in many circles for innovative (and sometimes a little controversial and out of the box) thinking. He recently did a stint on the staff of Sen. Sam Brownback and ran the Clementine lunar mission and the DC-X Delta Clipper project. Note to Ames folks: he is not boring. Personally, I find him fascinating. Expect a formal announcement soon.

Biologist, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Biologist and Payload integrator, Editor of NASAWatch.com and Astrobiology.com, Lapsed climber, Explorer, Synaesthete, Former Challenger Center board member...