Whither presidential space policy?

The Space Review ^ | 05/22/06 | Jeff Foust

[KevinDavis]

For decades, space advocates have turned to the White House to seek a new direction for, or an affirmation of the current direction of, the nation’s space programs. From the origins of NASA in the late 1950s to the development of the Vision for Space Exploration today, the aerospace community has looked to the White House to provide leadership on space policy—and have complained, often bitterly, when that leadership appeared to be lacking.

Yet how essential is that leadership, usually expressed in the form of national space policies, to NASA, other government agencies, and the industry? That question has relevance today since the Bush Administration, despite being in the second year of its second term, has yet to release an overarching national space policy. But, as some noted at a recent forum on national space policy organized by the Marshall Institute in Washington, having a national space policy may not be that big of a deal.

[KevinDavis]

[keithtoo]

Whither Space Policy? Whither this - if you want a rocket, buy your own.

[anymouse]

"Got LOx?" :)

The "Big Government Program" types are having a fit that the White House is not micro-managing NASA's exploration program.

Frankly I'm not happy with the current effort, but I respect that the President is trusting Dr. Griffin to build a program solid from the ground up. Of course Congress is doing it's best to hamstring the effort with pork to their district centers, contractors and universities.

What the President can best do is keep pressure on NASA to squeeze out the pork by making each institution accountable for showing results before getting further funding.