12 December 2008

Skyrockets in flight

As much as I am happy that Barack Obama was elected, I am completely unsure of what impact it could have on my job. I'm not really worried, but I'm pretty sure that some overarching changes are going to be made to the space program. I'm really not worried that my current defense job will lose funding. I've heard that Obama intends to cut the defense budget but I'm totally behind that. Besides I don't think it'll happen anytime soon and it won't affect the project that I'm working on. Actually, I may not be working on this project for much longer anyway. I may end up getting the job that I was actually hired for believe it or not. This is what makes me worry a little because that job is working on the Constellation program. I'm not really sure how I feel about the Constellation program, honestly. Let me rephrase that. I can't help but think that the current direction of the space program is not the best option. That being said I hate to think of the alternative because, well, the alternative is nonexistant. So I would much rather the space program have a direction than no direction. For obvious reasons. Here's an article from the Orlando Sentinel that highlights the current conflict surrounding the Obama transition. The first lines:

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin is not cooperating with President-elect Barack Obama's transition team, is obstructing its efforts to get information and has told its leader that she is "not qualified" to judge his rocket program, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.
I don't know what to think. Really. What do you think?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Some friends and I were talking about this Saturday night. We don't have the vested interest that you do, but we're geeks who enjoy human triumph and learning. None of us have much confidence in Obama at all, let alone in his ability to successfully delegate responsibility for the space program. Our hope is that it should become increasingly privatized. Not only would it create jobs, but hopefully be more efficient at creation and experimentation, which would lead to more scientific and engineering breakthroughs. And then, you know, after all that, capture the public imagination again. And then we could Return to the Moon with Hot Chicks!

Apollo said...

I understand where you're coming from with Obama but I don't know who I would have had any confidence in, really. I don't think McCain, Clinton, or any politician has the know-how to staff NASA. I completely agree with you about the privatization of the space industry, too. The space industry should thrive on innovation and innovation thrives on the type of competition that privatization brings. Also, we could easily recapture public imagination by sending hot chicks to space. I think you're onto something there.

Unknown said...

Times are different and in the past Dems have always givin' the shit end of the stick to NASA and most organizations like that.

I want to believe that Obama is a different type of person who understands the need for andvances in technology. Only time will tell though.

Good luck! Don't drop the soap!