NASA Administrator and Obama Battle

According to many news sources (including Time magazine), there’s a battle going on between (Bush appointed) NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and the President-Elect. Could this be the end of America’s next moonlanding?

Meet the New Boss

The alleged shouting match between Obama’s transition team member Lori Garver and Griffin doesn’t bode well for Griffin’s job security. Reports say that Garver wants to scrap the new Ares booster, and use modified Atlas V and Delta IV rockets for future manned flights. Griffin considers those rockets too dangerous to carry humans. And it’s very hard to image those rockets carrying anybody to the moon.

On this point, Griffin has the edge. He has an engineering background. Garver’s background is public relations.

Shifting Positions

Obama’s position on NASA has shifted in the past year; at one point he called for canceling the moon program to pay for an education program. More recently, he spoke of fully funding the new moon program. And Obama’s relations with seemed cordial. Griffin has reached out to Obama earlier in the year, thanking him for his support or NASA.

What To Do?

My position? Save Ares and the moon program.

I’m not wild about the use of SRB (solid rocket boosters) on the Ares, but it’s the best hope we’ve got for rejuvenating the space program. Keep Griffin or replace him with someone who has both engineering and political skills. It’ll take both to get us back to the moon.