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December 13, 2004
Godspeed, Sean O'Keefe
NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has resigned. While his tenure has overall been positive for NASA, it's time for new blood to carry us to the stars. Plus, LSU really wants the guy and hopefully they'll get him and pull some R&D research dollars to Baton Rouge. Tigers in space, YAY!!
But seriously, there's a short list of five candidates to replace O'Keefe in the top slot at NASA. First on the list is Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish. Kadish has been the champion of the missile shield for the US. I personally support the missile shield development programs, not necessarily because I think N. Korea will start chucking missiles at us, but rather because the program funnels lots of money into rocket research. Rockets may be inefficient, but it's proven technology and provides for heavy lift capacity.
However, I think Kadish may not be the right guy for this job at this time. I think his history with rocket programs may lead to more groupthink at NASA (which we DO NOT need) and focus our efforts on building bigger and better rockets when we need to be building space planes and the space elevator.
Also on the list is Congressman Robert Walker. I like the guy, but again, I don't think he's the right guy for the job at this juncture. The Vice President is really in charge of NASA and I think from that point down we really don't need any more politicians involved. Lets continue down the list.
Ron Sega, Charles Bolden and Robert Crippen are all former shuttle astronauts, and they're the ones that should be most seriously looked at for the top slot. All three have actually been in space, experienced the wonder and excitement of "slipping the bonds of earth" and travelling where few men have gone before. I think that each of these individuals will bring to the agency a sense of wonder and excitement for the future. All three are strong proponents of replacing the ageing space shuttle and all three are anxious to get the ball rolling on finishing the ISS, returning to the Moon and getting a manned mission to Mars.
The downside of putting an astronaut in the captain's chair is that they'll be political novices when it comes to dealing with Capitol Hill and budget matters. They won't be anxious to spend time in Washington lobbying for more funding, they'll be down at the cape pushing the engineers and rocket scientists to solve problems and develop mission profiles.
I would really like to see one of these three make it to the top job, and I'm putting letters in the mail today promoting such, but I fear that politics will win and we'll see Walker get the nod. We'll see.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at December 13, 2004 4:32 PM
