Obama picks former shuttle commander to lead NASA

[BlueJessamine]

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

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Hear Ye, Hear Ye! All thou Obama detractors!

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.

[Iowa]

12. Yes!

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.

[NJCher]

2. Wonder what Richard C. Hoagland will have to say about this

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

[sudopod]

16. Listening to Richard Hoagland talk about NASA

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

[Posteritatis]

17. Ouch! (nt)

[NJCher]

18. from your comment

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


Cher

[Crowman1979]

3. I remember Bolden when he was the CG of 3rd MAW.

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

[IndianaGreen]

4. Here is NASA photo of Bolden, plus Jay Barbree's report on Bolden

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/

[Ian David]

5. Replaces Bush's Embezzling Young-Earth Creationist Global Warming Denier. n/t

[iamthebandfanman]

6. thank god

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

[onehandle]

7. WTF? Obama has no idea how America works.

Useless suits call the shots and get the kickbacks.

Obama is so out of touch.

[Posteritatis]

8. (1) Awesome; (2) WTF at the one comment on that article (nt)

[bananas]

9. He's been the front-runner since early January

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

January 7, 2009
Charlie Bolden: News or Noise?

<snip>

A blog posting by the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday has exploded into a series of un-sourced stories that suddenly proclaim former astronaut Charles Bolden as the front runner to replace outgoing Administrator Mike Griffin (spousal petition campaign not withstanding).

<snip>

That said, Charlie Bolden is an A-1, five star class act. At some point I will convey a seemingly innocuous encounter I had with him 20 years ago in Building 4 at JSC which, to me, speaks volumes about the man. Sean O'Keefe sought him out to be his deputy. Pentagon politics thwarted that plan. NASA's loss.

This may all be media hype. It may also be spot on. One thing is certain, Mike Griffin is leaving. Obama has a plan. I can see a clear path wherein Bolden is a player at NASA. His post-NASA career speaks volumes to his leadership capabilities.

<snip>

In the final equation, Mike Griffin is just dime-a-dozen hired help. In contrast, Charlie Bolden is a much rarer breed: NASA at its finest.

NASA needs a Kirk in the captain's chair, not a Scotty.

[FarCenter]

10. Bad idea if this means more emphasis on manned space flight

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.

[struggle4progress]

13. Agree 100%

[Baclava]

15. "Obama's NASA selection is a boost for manned spaceflight"

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

[Algorem]

11. i knew it.some kind of plot by bruthas from outer space.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Obama picks ex-astronaut Bolden to lead NASA

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