HQ Staff Gets Budget Numbers

Just a quick and quiet word of "thanks" for keeping this space cadet up to date. Interesting Times!

Thanks Keith

Thank you for keeping us up to date Keith. You are our best source for information regarding NASA’s future. Interestingly, Mr. Coats sent out this email just after 4pm CST. One would surmise he already knew the bad new, but did not see a reason to share this information with the minions. Despite the fact that NASA’s inept senior egos have brought us to this precipice, they won’t be scarified to American's barren work place to help resolve NASA’s budget issues. However, those of us whose jobs are in jeopardy, and need to plan...well we apparently can't handle the truth.

"As you know, media speculation continues on the President’s budget and its potential implications to NASA’s future. The President’s budget submission will be released next Monday. Soon thereafter NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden and NASA Chief Financial Officer Beth Robinson will brief reporters about the agency's fiscal year 2011 budget at 3 p.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 1. The news conference will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency's Web site. Questions will be taken from media representatives at headquarters and participating field centers.
To watch the budget news conference online, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

NASA budget and supporting information will be available at 12:30 p.m., Feb. 1, at: http://www.nasa.gov/budget
As additional details become available, we will continue to share and update our information. We will also schedule a JSC All Hands in the near future and let you know that date as soon as possible.
Please remember that the budget process is just that – a process – which may take many months. So, once again, let’s stay focused on our mission and not let distractions, speculation or rumors affect our continued excellence, our commitment to safety or our care and concern for each other.
Mike"

Frank...if you know what the budget numbers are, we would appreciate it if you would share them. Most of us think any increase in the budget would go to commercial space. If it does, let’s hope NASA remembers to include a contract clause insuring any information obtained during the development and testing of these publically funded vehicles belongs to the U.S. Government. It seems NASA forgot about this when they gave Bigelow the inflatable technology.

As Sally Ride noted during one of the Augustine Commission’s public hearings …the same people plus the same process equals the same outcome. All we (the minions) want is for NASA’s senior egos to stop their infighting so we can begin working together to repair our tarnished image…but most of us don’t think these NASA Neros are capable of thinking beyond their kingdoms…after all it isn’t about us…it is about them.

@Frank:

Budget alone will not do it. They better be getting their act together now. Indeed remember that President Bush lost interest in Constellation and NASA never saw a dime to do anything they were hoping. So today this WH, again, feels inclined to raise the budget of NASA, it looks. What is NASA's attitude going to be? 1. Reform their approaches to HSF OR 2. So what we never loose anyway...

We shall see.