Keith’s 15 Nov 4:00 pm EST note: NASA will announce soon that Glenn Research Center Director Ray Lugo and Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats are leaving their respective positions. All-hands meetings have reportedly been scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) at JSC and GRC. As was reported on NASAWatch in August, these departures, which will be described as “retirement”, are part of a larger attempt by NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden to […]

Let’s bring logic to NASA’s budget process, Editorial, Houston Chronicle “Culberson’s and Wolf’s bill would model NASA’s budget process after that used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Doing so would make the agency less political and more professional. It calls for the president to appoint the NASA director to a 10-year term and would make the budget cycle multiyear rather than annual. The notion has Coats’ endorsement. He notes […]

– Sen. Rockefeller (statement) Witness Panel 1 – Charles Bolden(statement) Witness Panel 2 – KSC Center Director Robert D. Cabana – JSC Center Director Michael L. Coats – MSFC Center Director Robert M. Lightfoot

NASA Internal Memo: Official Overarching Messages Regarding Shuttle Retirement “* The Bush Administration in 2004 made the decision to end the Space Shuttle program. President Obama extended the program’s life by adding two Space Shuttle launches to the manifest: STS-134, which was funded in the President’s FY 2010 Budget Request; and STS-135 which was funded as part of the agreement that the President reached with Congress for FY 2011 funding. […]

Keith’s note: Of course, NASA JSC PAO continues to totally ignore this activity – even though local residents driving by the center can hear loud noises and see lots of smoke. Why won’t Mike Coats let people see these rocket tests through official channels – just like he promotes astronaut visits to City Hall and e-waste recycling events? Or are such mundane things more worthy of JSC PAO attention than […]

Keith’s note: Not everyone is happy with the proposed merger of ESMD (Exploration Systems Mission Directorate) and SOMD (Space Operations Mission Directorate). Sources report that the White House is not sold on the idea and Congress is not exactly keen on it either. One concern is that the merger would make it harder to see how Constellation cancellation is being handled (paid for), how Shuttle is being phased out, how […]

“JSC Director Mike Coats will speak to employees from 9 to 10 a.m. today, Oct. 12, in the Building 2 South Teague Auditorium. All JSC team members are invited to attend. Those unable to attend in person can view the program live on RF Channel 2, Omni Channel 3 or on the Web (IPTV Channels 102, 202) at: http://mcs.jsc.nasa.gov/Multicasts4.aspx The event will be recorded for playback on Thursday and next […]