Several people have blamed the NASA Administrator for the current status of Constellation, for what he did or not do. I personnaly think that he should at least be given credit for really trying to get us back to the Moon and beyond. Also, if he leaves, I surely hope that his successor will have enough clout (much easier said than done) with the White House and Congress to make progress on VSE, if VSE survives. It does not mean keeping Constellation as it is but build on its achievements, understand its problems, and provide an updated solution if possible. I would rather not have another round of ESAS or PowerPoint-fun but I think it is important to revisit some decisions on a regular basis. Constellation is NOT Apollo, there is only a few Apollo people around and therefore yes we will have to learn a whole lot again to see it through.

Finally, if anything, I hope that his legacy will be associated with a successful COTS and its possible follow-on: This is the "real" future.

This administrator has been trully a joy to watch. He has always told it like it is and not like congress wanted the public to think it was. Constellation is in great shape and would be much further along had they been given the money.

To expect NASA to do more than what they have done with their current funding is silly. And good luck to whom ever they pick to replace him. Talk about a thankless job. You hear nothing when you pull off one amazing mission after another. But if the slightest thing goes wrong its off with his head.

I have no faith that the Obama administration has any intention of getting us back to the moon or leaving earth orbit at all. Once the shuttle is retired watch for Obama to steal as much of NASA's funding as possible and pull the nails in NASA's coffin!

Mike Griffin succeeded at several important things:

1) he returned Shuttle to flight
2) he largely finished building the space station
3) he fathered the COTS program

but he failed at putting in-place a viable and sustainable plan for VSE, and a replacement for the Space Shuttle.

It was an important opportunity he unfortunately missed.

Goodnight moon.

@common sense

Amen, sir or madam, Amen.

@Jeff the Space Nut

right on the money! (and the rest if it, too)

I would like to nominate Lori Garver as NASA Adminstrator and I know I'll take a lot of hits for saying this: cancel the Constellation program. Bury it as the British in the dustbin of history.
David Moore,
Morro Bay, California