So today is finally the day. The Augustine Commission's report will be released at 1:00 at the National Press Club.
Given the release months ago of the Summary Report, the question on the minds of aerospace executives and policy planners today is, of course, when will the White House act? It would be too much to hope that NASA administrator Charles Bolden will have time in the Oval Office in the next week—maybe the week after? Here’s the administrator’s take on the coming pace of the White House action: "I certainly hope we can meet, discuss his wants for NASA, provide him with the information he needs and hear his decisions before the end of the year," Bolden told The Times after he made a presentation at the Von Braun Center today. "The sooner we can move forward the better. However, the president has a lot of decisions about a number of areas to make. We are one on his list." That remark comes from Shelby G. Spires' blog.
But not to worry if NASA can’t get the White House to respond this year. Continued the administrator “"I'm comfortable with it (the report)," Bolden said. "There aren't any surprises coming out that I can foresee."
If Bolden is correct on the probable timing a good man has been placed in an unprofessional situation. And the reforms suggested by the Commission will hang perilously out there for the rest of the year to be picked apart by opponents. When is the real due date? Early February, when the administration’s budget must be submitted. Until then, expect the in-fighting to move to Congress where the supporters of Ares 1 will move heaven and earth to frame the question as one of budget, not structural reform
But General Motors tried that, remember? Their first proposal to the White House was rejected as it was a request for increased federal funding and not genuine reform of the auto industry. Let’s hope any attempts to whitewash the problem’s afflicting this nation’s space program by pretending it results from inadequate funding will be met the same fate by the White House. Stay tuned.
