Obama picks former shuttle commander to lead NASA

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

President Barack Obama on Saturday named former shuttle commander Charles Bolden to lead NASA at a critical time for the space agency.

The White House has ordered a complete outside review of NASA's manned space program, including plans to return astronauts to the moon.

Bolden flew in space four times — twice as shuttle commander — and once was assistant deputy administrator at NASA headquarters in Washington. The 62-year-old Bolden left NASA in 1994.

If the Senate confirms Bolden, he would be the space agency's first black administrator and the second astronaut to hold the post.

Obama also announced that he was nominating Lori Garver to be NASA's deputy administrator. Garver was Obama's NASA transition chief and is a former associate administrator at the agency.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/23/national/w061225D71.DTL&type=politics

Let it be known that on this auspicious occasion our President is shown to make appointments on the basis of merit - NOT cronyism. This contrasts mightily with the practice of the Chimpolini administration (heckuva job, Brownie!).

For all thy faultfinding, take heart in the knowledge that our President makes appointments in the best interest of the American people, and that if thou can't acknowledge even that modest improvement, then thou may be better served through affiliation with more conservative organizations.

We have all been waiting with bated breath...

"Who will Obama appoint to lead NASA?"

"Oh God, please let it be _______ (fill in the blank)."

Well "Hear Ye, Hear Ye!" At long last the wait is over. Obama has nominated...

He has nominated...

He has nominated...

Umm... what was his name again?

Well, whoever he is, he's probably the right guy, and we should all take back any criticisms that have been leveled toward the president on trifling issues like .............. Ah screw it, there are too many to list. Besides, what's more important than Obama's nomination of what's-his-name to head NASA? That earth-shattering appointment wipes the slate clean and is the beginning of a new era. Now we can all stop worrying our pretty little heads and relax. All is well in la la land.

Jes*s F*cking Chr*st.

Hoagland, who watches NASA with a critical eye, thinks that Obama intends to make his mark with space exploration. He thinks it is a strategic move and if carried out the right way, could give Obama many more options than what he currently has re our economic and competitive position in the world.


Cher

is like listening to Ron Paul talk about the Department of Education.

It's obvious you haven't listened to him in awhile.


Cher

I recall saluting him, but never had a conversation since I had to hurry up for another day at Corporal's course.

Bolden is an African-American born in 1946 in segregated South Carolina, where the law at the time forced him to study in a blacks-only school equipped with hand-me-downs and used books.

Despite the hard road of segregation, he logged top grades and pounded on the gates of the U.S. Naval Academy until a Northern congressman helped him get in. Bolden was elected president of his class, and graduated with the gold bars of a Marine second lieutenant.

Bolden earned his Naval Aviator wings and became one of America's outstanding combat pilots, flying more than 100 missions in the skies of North and South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Upon returning home, he became a leading Marine Corps test pilot and a NASA astronaut — logging 680 hours in Earth orbit.

Bolden first piloted the shuttle Columbia 23 years ago, and followed with three more space shuttle flights, including the flight that deployed the famed Hubble Space Telescope in 1990 and the first shuttle mission with a Russian crew member, in 1994. Bolden was shuttle commander for two flights, the one in 1994 as well as a science mission in 1992.

The spaceflight veteran retired from the military as a Marine Corps major general in 2003. Three years later, he explained during a Senate hearing why only astronauts could do certain tasks in space, and why only robots — like the rovers currently operating on Mars — should be used to explore certain types of hostile terrains. He made it clear that all sciences should get a fair shake.

Astronaut Kathy Sullivan, the first woman to make a spacewalk for NASA, flew in space twice with Bolden. "He's not a heavy-handed commander," she said. "He has the strength of character needed to shape up NASA."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30896443/

somebody whos not a crook and actually has PASSION for what he does.

Useless suits call the shots and get the kickbacks.

Obama is so out of touch.

NasaWatch.com had some nice things to say about him at the time:

NASA should focus on scientific and engineering goals using robotic craft for exploration and experimentation.

Humans require too much expensive life support equipment and supplies to be practically useful in space.

The choice of astronaut Charles Bolden as NASA administrator reassures many who feared that Obama was lukewarm on future manned missions.

During the presidential campaign, Obama had seemed lukewarm toward NASA and its hugely expensive human spaceflight program. Space enthusiasts were particularly worried after Obama staffers floated the idea of taking money from the agency to fund domestic programs.


But now, with the selection of a retired Marine general and astronaut to run the agency, observers are asking whether this means the president has suddenly gotten religion for manned spaceflight.

The answer, according to space policy experts and NASA watchers around the country, is a qualified yes.

(more)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nasa-bolden24-2009may24,0,5054468.story

Obama picks ex-astronaut Bolden to lead NASA
By David Alexander and Irene Klotz David Alexander And Irene Klotz
Sat May 23, 12:23 pm ET

http://d.yimg.com.nyud.net:8090/a/p/afp/20090523/capt.photo_1243092866449-1-0.jpg

WASHINGTON/CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will name former space shuttle commander Charles Bolden to lead NASA, the White House said on Saturday, in the midst of a major shift in the U.S. human space program.

Bolden, 62, a retired Marine general, flew on four shuttle missions before leaving the U.S. space agency in 1994 to return to the military.

Bolden, who would become the 12th administrator in NASA's 51-year history and its first black head, is seen as a strong advocate for human space flight.

"I think it's good news and good for the agency," said Frank Siezten, a Washington-based space consultant.

"All things being equal, he'll come down on the side of the current architecture. He's got an investment in the current system but he knows enough to ask the hard questions. You're not going to be able to roll Charlie Bolden."

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090523/ts_nm/us_obama_nasa