Gration to head NASA

Posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:23 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Jay Barbree
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- One of America's decorated jet fighter pilots who was reared by missionary parents in Africa and spoke Swahili before he did English -- retired Air Force Major General Jonathan Scott Gration reportedly has been asked by President-elect Obama to be the new NASA czar.

General Gration's only NASA experience was working in 1982 as a White House Fellow for NASA's deputy administrator Hans Mark. This lack of experience has brought criticism from some quarters including the chairman of the Senate's Space Science and Tech Subcommittee Bill Nelson.

Nelson, the senior Senator from Florida, flew in space himself and when hearing about Gration's possible appointment said, "I think President Bush made a mistake when he appointed someone without NASA experiece in Sean O'Keefe to head the agency."

Following the loss of the space shuttle Columbia's crew of seven O'Keefe was replaced by current NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.

Griffin, the rocket scientist who drew up the blueprints used by President Ronald Reagan to convince the Soviet Union to tear down the Berlin Wall is hailed by many as an outstanding NASA administrator, and Sen. Nelson, a Democrat, added, "I hope President Obama's pick will have that kind of background."

Sen. Nelson's subcommittee will report to the Senate General Gration's qualfications to be NASA Administrator for Senatorial confirmation.

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Comments

Perhaps Obama is giving a sign that his intentions are to tend more to matters here on earth than in space. Perhaps this is good. We all love exploration. But are we in a position at this time to spend milllions on space exploration. I know this would be a tough pill to swollow for some but you have to do what you have to do.

Once we are able to fund more space missions I think it would be interesting to go back to the moon and to begin preparing for and building the first settlement there.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:40 PM)

Does does anyone see the irony in criticizing Bush in putting someone without NASA experience in charge of NASA when it's okay to put someone without intel experience in charge of the CIA?

Please (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:43 PM)

Just a little correction. Caroline Kennedy doesn't have a sister. Kerry kennedy is her cousin--RFK's daughter.
Re the content of this article--as a New Yorker and a Democrat, I can say that I would feel alot more comfortable with Andrew Cuomo sitting in that Senate seat--especially as a Western NYer, I really don't think the well-intentioned Caroline knows a thing about the issues that concern us this far from the Big Apple...

Judy, Rochester, NY (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:46 PM)

Here we go again with the insider VS outsider issue. It seems to me that the more insiders we have as agency heads, the more they will "circle the wagons" when there is a problem.

In the last 10 years we have gotten more good info from the Hubble space telescope, then from all manned space exploration to date by far. I am a Trek fan and have been for many years, but the realities of distance in the universe suggest that ET will find us long before we have even a remote chance of finding him.

If you have any doubts, checkout "http://hubblesite.org"

A NASA insider will simply want to spend countless billons on going to Mars and beyond. An outsider will likely be more pragmatic, an important trait at this time.

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 3:00 PM)

There is no mission for outerspace. We have a deep space telescope. That is enough. We have larger problems here on earth. How is knowing that there was or is water on Mars possibly be of importance to me. I've just been robbed with the blessings of my government.

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 3:38 PM)

NASA better get used to exploring the Florida coast, because that's as far their budget will be taking them. For a country that has been founded on the best research and development teams ever assembled, Obama is essentially killing the goose that laid the golden egg. All the innovations, all the inventions, all the new ideas that this country has come up with, many have come from NASA. Now, for a President that talks of new inventions and innovations, for example with Green Technology, the first he does is mothball the preeminent inventor and innovator of all time. It certainly shows Obama's true colors.

Joe Shepard, MN (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 3:41 PM)

Does does anyone see the irony in criticizing Bush in putting someone without NASA experience in charge of NASA when it's okay to put someone without intel experience in charge of the CIA?

Please

Oh, you noticed that? Many, no make that most, people have stars in their eyes with Obama. As soon as you put the shades on though, you start seeing some major cracks in this man.

Leonard Krause (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 3:43 PM)

Just how many Astronauts does Senator Nelson think there are that are even near interested in heading NASA or could do it. If Griffin has done a good job than good for him.

Sometimes a leader doesn't have to be an expert but just know enough so as not to be BSed by those reporting to him. More often than not those with the technical knowledge are not good leaders but are great at what they do. Rare it is to find someone that is great at both the technical and leadership aspects of a company or agency.

Perhaps Gen. Gration will do a fine job at NASA. After all he didn't have to know how to drive or fix a tank or fly or fix a plane to be a general in command of people who do know how to do these things.

eagle1776 (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 3:58 PM)

They should put Blago in charge of NASA. He's already a space cadet.

Joe Sepeda,Early,Texas (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 4:02 PM)

Would you royalists please stop using "czar" when you mean department head? Shoddy journalism on your part.

Nellcote (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 4:22 PM)

There is no mission for outerspace. We have a deep space telescope. That is enough. We have larger problems here on earth.

------------------

This is the same thing Queen Isabella told Christopher Columbus.

Issy Bella (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 4:28 PM)

Whatever stimulus we decide to pursue, C A, the real question is what benefit we will get on Earth from the money we spend. From space exploration, we not only get high tech jobs that encourage young people to pursue careers in math, science, and the military, but we get the benefits of all the technological innovation that goes with that. After all, what about velcro? What about Tang?

The Moon Maid (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 4:40 PM)

It's now clear that Obama plans to merge the pentagon and NASA space efforts. This will spell the end to ARES-1 and will mean the man-rating on Delta IV or Atlas V. This will help EELV which has been hurting due to lack of launches. However ARES-V hopefully will go forward. The military might also benefit from a large launcher like ARES-V.

Matt Colver, Castle Rock, Co (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 4:57 PM)

Folks it is certainly true that many of the things in our current technology were derived from the Space Race period of NASA. We invented ICs (integrated circuits) which became the chips that run our computer, cars, cellphone, microwaves, ect because our rockets could not lift as much as the Russians. We also got tang and efficient solar batteries and many other cool things from that period of NASA research.

We owe a lot to that generation of NASA research to be sure. Some years back I heard a presentation from an MD who had spent 6 mos on the Russian space station. Aside from the horror stories about how bad the Russian technology was, I recall him saying that he had bone loss problems in his back form the weightless experience. This guy was 28 at the time!

Basic research and new ideas for unmanned exploration seem very useful to me. Spending huges amounts on putting men on Mars, because it is there or a base on the moon, are not practical given what we know about the human body at this time.

Now if the Vulcans come on down and share their warp technology and deep space medicine, that might change the equation a bit, lol

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 5:00 PM)

Can a leader make a differene - by all means. Do you know that during the Challnger/Columbia tragedies, we had a Computer Scientist/Economist heading NASA, respectively in William Graham filling in for Beggs and O'Keefe. Look foe an engineer with flight experience if possible to head NASA unless you want to kill it.
So far 3 bad pics by Obama (Treasury, CIA and NASA) if this story holds true.

Oliver, Knoxville TN (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 12:14 AM)

The result will largely depend on Grations' approach. Griffin was probably the best administrator in NASA's history, including Webb. NASA was a disasterous and unhealthy organization before he came on board and became much more streamlined, focused, and effective during his tenure.

If Gration defocuses and changes course in no particular direction, just to allow enough breathing room for politically connected to get a little bit more slush money, then NASA is again doomed to the previous embarassments that it had. However, if he respects the work done under the Griffin adminstration, it might be okay.

All the indications coming from the transition team don't look too good, frankly. If they are going to deemphasize NASA, they might as well disband about 70% of it rather than continuing it as a useless charade.

Safit Thama, Phoenix AZ (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 6:09 AM)

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