Eun Kyung Kim reports from Washington:
Suzanne Kosmas took advantage of a rare opportunity - face time with President Barack Obama aboard Air Force One - on Tuesday to invite the nation's highest-ranking space enthusiast to a Kennedy Space Center launch.
Kosmas, the freshman Democratic congresswoman from New Smyrna Beach, caught up with the president flying back to Washington from Obama's economic recovery speech in Fort Myers.
Kosmas said she invited the president, who described himself as a "space guy," to join her for a space shuttle launch.
She said she also asked him whether he had decided who to appoint as the next NASA chief.
"He said, 'We have several names under consideration, did you have a suggestion?'" recounted Kosmas, whose district includes Kennedy Space Center. "I said, 'No, actually I don't. I just wanted to ensure that whoever you appoint is an advocate of manned space exploration.'" She said Obama assured her the person would.
The economic recovery package passed Tuesday by the Senate includes about $1.3 billion for NASA - more than double the amount included in the stimulus bill approved by the House on Jan. 28.
Space news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral 
7 comments:
Whitson for NASA chief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DR. Peggy Whitson pleses
thank you
$1.3B! Excellent!!
1.3 Billon...an extra tip. NASA was promised 2 billon during your election just like McCain. NASA budget is usually 1 billion which needed a cost of living increase ten years ago. Thanks for supporting us....
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's position on space exploration continued to evolve Sunday as the Illinois Democrat endorsed a congressional plan to add $2 billion to NASA's budget and agreed to back at least one more space shuttle mission.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/nation/5949605.html
As someone who spoke with Rep. Kosmas' office (among many others) three weeks ago to argue for the retention of Michael Griffin as NASA Administrator, I find the opening paragraph of this story -- saying that Ms. Kosmas "took advantage of" the opportunity she had to speak with the President about NASA -- bitterly ironic.
To Mr. Obama's softball question, "Did you have a suggestion?" she says, "No actually I dont..." ARE YOU KIDDING!?!?
Why not say, "Actually, Mr. President, the current NASA Administrator, Dr. Griffin, is doing a great job. He took over an agency that was on the deck after the Columbia accident and quickly turned it around. He has made dozens of very tough decisions over the last few years -- all correct. He is bright, accomplished, extremely knowledgeable and admired by workers, contractors, our international partners and even the press. He is the best Administrator in a generation and has boosted morale and performance to their highest levels since the Moon program, which I know you remember as a child, Mr. President.
"Yes, he made a few intemperate remarks during the campaign, probably because he loves NASA and is so worried about its future. But you have shown you can embrace and work with those who disagree with you, sir.
"Why not take him to the woodshed, read him the riot act about coming to you directly with problems, and then let him stay on? No matter who else you might pick, Mr. President, they will not be able to lead NASA any better than Dr. Griffin has."
Tell me, Ms. K. Would that have been so hard...?!?
YES I BELIEVE THAT DR. GRIFFIN HAS BEEN THE BEST NASA ADMINISTRATOR EVER. HIS LEADERSHIP, COMBINED WITH HIS VAST KNOWLEDGE OF THE AEROSPACE BUSINESS IS WHAT NASA NEEDS. HE UNDERSTANDS THE RISKS INVOLVED AND VERY GOOD AT EXPLAINING SPACEFLIGHT TO THE MEDIA & PUBLIC. IF DR GRIFFIN IS NOT A CONSIDERED CHOICE BY THE ADMINISTRATION, I HOPE THE PRESIDENT WILL CONSIDER SOMEONE WHO IS VERY COMPARABLE TO DR. GRIFFIN. EVEN THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR CHRIS SCOLESE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE. HE HAS BEEN WITH NASA SINCE SOON AFTER CHALLENGER - THEREFORE HE HAS A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE RISKS INVOLVED & THE CULTURAL CHANGES THAT HAVE RESULTED. HE ALSO WAS INVOLVED IN THE EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM OF THE NINETIES- WHICH GAVE HIM A BACKGROUND IN THE IMPORTANT STUDIES OF THE EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT-ANOTHER TOP ISSUE OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.
NASA DOES NOT NEED ANY OUTSIDER DIRECTING ITS PROGRAMS - ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THE TRANSITION FROM SHUTTLE TO FUTURE PROJECTS, INCLUDING CONSTELLATION.
I BELIEVE THAT DR. MIKE GRIFFIN HAS BEEN THE THE BEST ADMINISTRATOR THAT NASA EVER HAD. HIS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES, IN ADDITION TO HIS VAST KNOWLEDGE OF THE AEROSPACE BUSINESS IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT THE SPACE AGENCY NEEDS, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THE TRANSITION FROM SHUTTLE TO CONSTELLATION.
NASA DOES NOT NEED ANY UNEXPERIENCED PERSON IN CHARGE.
IF DR. GRIFFIN IS NOW NOT AVAILABLE TO BE CALLED BACK, WHY NOT MAKE THE CURRENT ACTING ADMINISTRATOR CHRIS SCOLESE THE FULL TIME PERMANENT BOSS. HE HAS BEEN WITH NASA FOR OVER 20 YEARS - SINCE CHALLENGER. THEREFORE, HE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE SAFETY/RISK CONCERNS OF SPACEFLIGHT AND THE CULTURAL CHANGES RESULTING FROM THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS. HE ALSO WAS INVOLVED IN THE EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM-SO HE HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THE EARTH MONITORING SYSTEMS THAT WOULD BE USED TO ANALYZE EARTHS' ENVIRONMENT-GLOBAL WARMING.
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