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Moon-to-Mars Commission Recommends Major Changes at NASA
Space.com ^ | 6/11/04 | Brian Berger

Posted on 06/11/2004 10:08:42 AM PDT by Bordeaux44

WASHINGTON -- A presidential commission will recommend next week streamlining the NASA bureaucracy and turning at least some of the U.S. space agencies 10 field centers into federally funded research and development centers like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is operated for NASA by the California Institute of Technology.

The President’s Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy is scheduled to release its final report June 16. A summary of the report obtained by Space News outlines the organizational changes the commission says NASA needs to make if it is to achieve the space exploration goals laid out by President George W. Bush in January. Those goals include returning humans to the moon by 2020 in preparation for eventual human expeditions to Mars.

The forthcoming report, "A Journey to Inspire, Innovate, and Discover", will also recommend the establishment of a so-called Space Exploration Steering Council reporting to the president. The last time that such a body reported to such a high level was the White House National Space Council during the first Bush administration, which was headed by Vice President Dan Quayle.

"The commission unanimously endorses this ambitious yet thoroughly achievable goal of space exploration," the report summary reads. "This will require a steady commitment from current and future Administrations, Congresses, and the American people … Our journey will require the government to embrace fundamental changes in its management and organization."

According to the summary, the report will say NASA needs to transform its organizational structure, business culture and management processes "all largely inherited from the Apollo era" if it is to accomplish the multi-decade exploration agenda laid out by the president.

Specifically, the commission will recommend that:

The commission gathered public testimony during hearings held in Washington, New York, Atlanta, San Francisco and Dayton, Ohio. The last hearing was held May 3.

The commission had been scheduled to release its report here June 11, but that event was postponed due to activities here honoring former U.S. President Ronald Reagan who died June 5.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; goliath; initiative; mars; moon; return; space

1 posted on 06/11/2004 10:08:43 AM PDT by Bordeaux44
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To: Bordeaux44
On a related note, the NASA TV network is now available 24/7 in DirecTV's main lineup (on channel 376). I believe it's also available with Dish Network.

It was apparently moved onto the main satellite a few days ago; so you do not need the multi-satellite dish (contrary to what it says in a recent channel listing). The basic dish is OK.

2 posted on 06/11/2004 10:53:35 AM PDT by snarkpup
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To: KevinDavis

Please ping the usual suspects, Kevin. Whole lotta shakin' goin' on!


3 posted on 06/11/2004 10:54:30 AM PDT by Frank_Discussion (May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!)
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To: snarkpup

Wow! Thanks for that heads up. I've missed NASA TV being on directv for forever.


4 posted on 06/11/2004 10:56:27 AM PDT by Monty22
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To: Bordeaux44
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC).

The mere thought of Federally Funded anything irks those same persons who fought John Quincy Adams' plan for the interstate post road. No, we should follow the third-world free market system. You want the boulder out of the dirt road, move it yourself.

5 posted on 06/11/2004 10:59:55 AM PDT by RightWhale (Destroy the dark; restore the light)
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To: Bordeaux44
NASA should remain focused on Science, Space and Aviation. The Moon and Mars initiatives are exploration and exploitation activities. Once Lewis and Clarke returned from their missions, it became the task of commerce and settlements that focused our energies on the new frontier. The Northwest Territories Act and the likes of Johnny Appleseed, (read Burt Rutan), brought the farmers, railroads and industry to the new territories.

The Moon and Mars and the whole near Earth territory should be guided by these historical precedences. the Deprtment of Commerce, Energy and Transportation should be focused on opening up the High Frontier. O'Neil and Roddenberry had a better vision. Interestingly, the NASA tribute to Ronald Reagan included his speech when he, in 1984, espoused the establishment of a permanent presence in space within the next 10 years. Of course it's 20 years later and we're still not there!

As we develop private funding and private entrepreneurship we shall go where no man has gone before!

6 posted on 06/11/2004 11:04:35 AM PDT by Young Werther
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To: RightWhale

does that go for federally-funded military and federally-funded highways too? maybe each citizen can maintain 20 foot of interstate to keep the federal government out of our business?


7 posted on 06/11/2004 11:44:14 AM PDT by Bordeaux44
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To: Bordeaux44

Right. That goes for the Internet, too. The Feds got it started. At some point entrepreneurs can join in.


8 posted on 06/11/2004 11:45:38 AM PDT by RightWhale (Destroy the dark; restore the light)
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To: RightWhale

there are a few areas that are ideal for federal government involvement. these sorts of exploits, like space exploration, are cost prohibitive as private endeavors in their early stages. and yet they often represent the best that america has to offer in terms of national prestige and scientific development. spinoffs from the apollo days in materials, structures, and technology (miniaturization that was essential for space travel made today's pc possible) came about because federal dollars were spent on endeavors that even the most abmbitious venture capitalist couldn't afford and wouldn't risk.

it was private industry that took those spinoff technologies and made them economically viable, appealing to wide industrial or consumer bases. the idea of space exploration is federal government at its best.

now social security or medicare? i can save for my own retirement. i can save for my own health insurance. NASA makes it possible for us as americans to do what i could never do on my own.

anyway, that's enough rambling. its nice to see there are so many people on here that are excited about the space program and america's role in the last frontier.


9 posted on 06/11/2004 11:58:01 AM PDT by Bordeaux44
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To: Bordeaux44

Yeah. We're jazzed about space. But we're also, ahem, realistic. If we can get some infrastructure developed in space, then private industry can start to make something of it. We need to get it started, and it looks like we need Federal projects to make it happen.


10 posted on 06/11/2004 12:01:46 PM PDT by RightWhale (Destroy the dark; restore the light)
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To: Young Werther

"Interestingly, the NASA tribute to Ronald Reagan included his speech when he, in 1984, espoused the establishment of a permanent presence in space within the next 10 years. Of course it's 20 years later and we're still not there!"

What do you call the space station then?


11 posted on 06/11/2004 12:06:20 PM PDT by Monty22
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To: RightWhale; Brett66; xrp; gdc314; sionnsar; *Space; anymouse; RadioAstronomer; NonZeroSum; ...

Space Ping! This is the Space Ping List! Let me know if you want on or off this list!


12 posted on 06/11/2004 4:35:33 PM PDT by KevinDavis (Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
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To: *Space

Space ping.


13 posted on 06/11/2004 11:22:51 PM PDT by anymouse
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To: Monty22

If you haven't noticed the ISS is not complete and a two man caretaker crew is doing NOTHING re science or entrepreneurship. The life expectancy of the ISS is 10 years and by the time it's complete itw will be obsolete!


14 posted on 06/12/2004 10:15:37 AM PDT by Young Werther
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