I am beyond happy that Trump has re-nominated Jared Issacman to lead NASA. It is well beyond time, I don’t think his original nomination should have been pulled in the first place, and the fact that so many in the space-industrial complex are unhappy fills me with great joy.
If you haven’t worked there, it is almost impossible to describe the mess that is NASA. It went from “Can-Do!” to “Can’t Do” with increasing layers of risk-averse management in an amazingly short time. Almost any hint of failure, or the possibility of failure, would get good ideas and programs cancelled. Think I’ve already told the story of the Tethered Satellite System, but it is a classic example of zero-sum safety run amok (the loss of Challenger being different but resulting in the loss of life).
NASA has strayed so far from it’s official and core mission it’s not funny. It’s one reason I’m glad to know that there is already some form of “Athena” (and love the leak as they leaked a Canary Trap). NASA should not be in the launch business (never should have gotten this far), nor should it be the single-route into space on any level.
Issacman is the single best shot we have for saving NASA from itself and those growing rich off it’s indulgences. It needs “Athena” in a big way, as that is the way to ensuring the future of humanity, and that humanity has a future. One can only hope that for once, Congress will move quickly and decisively to get him into position. It can’t happen soon enough.
Also, if he happens to read this, I hope he will move on the necessary research to ensure humanity can reproduce in microgravity and, to quote Bugs Bunny, GET US OUT OF HERE!
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