NASA Prepares for Future Sans Griffin

January 09, 2009

NASA is confident it can keep a tight bead on shuttle safety despite the impending departure of administrator Michael Griffin, who has tendered his resignation, along with other political appointees, to allow President-elect Barack Obama freedom to pick a replacement if desired.

Griffin, a highly regarded engineer and scholar, has overseen the agency since April 2005 when NASA was attempting to prepare to resume flying following the Feb. 1, 2003, Columbia disaster.

“You don’t replace a Mike Griffin and his engineering capabilities,” shuttle program manager John Shannon told reporters on Friday.

NASA is preparing to launch its next shuttle flight on Feb. 12 when astronauts will deliver a solar wing panel -- the last major U.S.-made component -- to the International Space Station.   

Griffin’s supporters have been lobbying for Obama to retain Griffin, but so far he has not been asked to stay.

Comments

[gaetano marano - ghostNASA.com]

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Is (or was...) Mike Griffin the NASA's Gorbachev?

http://www.ghostnasa.com/posts/043griffin.html

in my opinion, the Griffin's story as NASA chief looks very much like the story of Mikhail Gorbachev as last President of the Soviet Union

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[Thomas Lee Elifritz]

I find it odd that you don't blog the alternative and widely held opinions that Michael Griffin is in incompetent engineer with far too many degrees and most are breathing a sigh of relief that the incompetent engineer is soon to be gone.

I guess you must have missed the whole 'Bush' thing.

[Habitat Hermit]

No it is not odd. Reasoned, balanced, and without bad blood, but not odd as this blog entry as I read it is about Dr. Griffin's departure rather than any specific or general contentious issue.

There's also a big difference between disagreement (and personally I disagree a lot with some of Dr. Griffin's decisions because I don't understand/accept their rationale as argued by him and NASA) and demonizing (to argue that the man is without any redeeming qualities whatsoever would be ridiculously over the top no matter how mystifying some of his decisions seem). Let's let disagreements (however severe) be just that and wish Dr. Griffin the very best for the future.

[Jim Hillhouse]

Dr. Griffin's departure will be much as that of Webb's--we'll see a return to the NASA before Griffin, one that was marked by a lack of focused leadership. What those who demonize him forget is how much he was heralded because he didn't play to the crowd, to the flatulent blogosphere (Irene obviously excluded), but instead followed the numbers, which he's done to the bitter end.

There's an old saying, "Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it." To Dr. Griffin's critics, that saying is something they should keep in mind. I know I will.

Now we are facing perhaps another 3 decades of...what to call it...fatuous leadership at NASA by people whose desire to lead NASA far exceeds their qualifications to do so? Dr. Griffin was right when he opined that the Space advocacy community is the Space program's, and man's pursuit of beyond earth exploration, greatest enemy.

[Irene Klotz]

Having covered two space shuttle disasters, I have a healthy respect for the cool-headed, exacting Griffin, although I can certainly understand while he rubs people the wrong way. He expects people -- reporters included -- to just deal with his style, which can be abrasive by our society's standards. I personally and professionally am very curious who Obama will pick as administrator. I think it will send a very clear message just what he aims to do with the space program.

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