Forging a vision: NASA’s Decadal Planning Team and the origins of the Vision for Space Exploration

The Space Review ^ | 12/19/05 | Dwayne A. Day and Jeff Foust

[KevinDavis]

Given the current White House’s obsession with secrecy, it is not surprising that little has been written about President Bush’s 2003 decision to pursue the Vision for Space Exploration. What has been written is vague and insubstantial. Whether or not the history of this decision will be better explored in the future depends in part upon how it ultimately develops—if Americans once again return to the Moon late in the next decade, scholars will examine the 2003 decision that started the process. If the plan falters under budget cuts or due to changes in political winds, it may never be researched in depth. Few people pay attention to failed policy initiatives.

Recently two members of NASA’s history office spoke at the National Air and Space Museum about a project that they are undertaking to explore NASA’s contributions to the decision-making that led to the Vision for Space Exploration. Stephen Garber and Glen Asner are researching and writing a monograph about NASA’s Decadal Planning Team, or DPT, which was first created in 1999 and produced a plan for NASA’s future, including plans to send humans beyond low Earth orbit where they had operated for decades. Several of the people who worked on the DPT later interacted with the Bush White House in 2003 during the decision making process that produced the Vision for Space Exploration.

[KevinDavis]

[Names Ash Housewares]

"Given the current White House’s obsession with secrecy,'

Well theres a non-biased view of things.

[KevinDavis]

lol!!!

[anymouse]

My alternative title to this article: "NASA’s Decadal Planning Team's Forged Plans Get a Reality Check."