Van Hollen Vows To Continue Mikulski’s Passion for Space, SpacePolicyOnline
“Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) vowed to continue the strong support for NASA and NOAA evidenced by Sen. Barbara Mikulski if he is elected as her successor in November. Mikulski is retiring and Van Hollen is widely considered to be the front runner to replace her. Overall, Van Hollen’s message today at a luncheon sponsored by the Maryland Space Business Roundtable (MSBR) was one of reassurance. Mikulski’s advocacy for NASA and NOAA, especially, but not only, earth science missions, is legendary. Many in the space community are apprehensive about what her departure will mean for NASA and NOAA space programs and budgets. Van Hollen is a relative unknown in space circles and today he clearly wanted to convey his enthusiasm and dedication to continue the fight.”

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...

6 replies on “A Tough Act To Follow”

  1. Sen. Mikulski was widely known and (mostly) admired; her retirement is a serious blow. You don’t get the influence she had by waving a hand during elections: “Van Hollen is a relative unknown in space circles”

    1. There were several times in the life of JWST, when schedule and budget overruns plagued the project, that the program was kept alive only by the sheer force of her will and influence in Congress.

      The next mismanaged bungled big project coming out of Goddard won’t be as lucky.

      1. Same could be said of Sen. Shelby, it should be noted.

        Sen. Mikulski also applied common sense, however.

        1. I agree. I think Mikulski did a lot of good. There were times when the JWST managers at Goddard talked about here like she was their personal ATM machine.

  2. Two Words “Low Seniority”, Sen. Mikulski’s long tenure in the Senate gave her key chairmanships or ranking member status that let her wave a bigger club and exert more control over budgets and legislative agenda’s. Rep. Van Hollen, even if he wins, will not have that seniority and so will not have those chairmanships and clout. It will be the better part of a decade or more before he does. In the mean time more senior senators from other states will be wielding considerably more clout as to where new projects (and old ones) go. All the best intentions in the world won’t do him much good, if he doesn’t have the standing to get his cut of the pie. Glad to hear of his enthusiasm though, NASA & NOAA can use all the advocates they can get. Unfortunately it will be a bit before he can do much to protect/further Maryland’s space interests (GSFC, APL, STScI, etc.).

    1. She’s one of the many examples that stand out in the term limits arguments; we actually do have capable leaders scattered here and there. I suppose that aside from the influence base that naturally accrues, a decade or so is needed to simply understand the issues and the players.

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