Jeff Krukin - Market visioning. Strategic Communications. Business development. IT-business synergy.

Written by Jeff Krukin
Sunday, 04 October 2009
According to a Sept. 10th article in The Wall Street Journal, the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, headed by former Lockheed Martin Corp. Chairman Norman Augustine, "... is recommending that NASA shelve its goal of rapidly returning to the moon and instead focus on nurturing a robust commercial space industry that can handle short-term objectives of the nation's space program, such as ferrying cargo and crew to the international space station." If you've followed my writing during the last few years, you know that I've long advocated a space exploration/settlement/development schedule that is synchronized with and nurtures the evolving capabilities of the NewSpace industry, rather than attempt to meet a politically mandated deadline. The four big questions before us are 1) does NASA want to follow the above recommendation, 2) will President Obama direct NASA to do so, 3) will Congress support or interfere with such a directive, and 4) would NASA do what it is told to do if so directed?
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Written by Jeff Krukin
Friday, 17 July 2009
Two events are bringing NASA a great deal of attention, with the added dimension that one looks back to a time of certainty and accomplishment while the other looks forward during a time of uncertainty and delays. The former event is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, and the latter is the Senate confirmation of Charles Bolden as the new NASA Administrator and Lori Garver as his deputy. Both events have led to a great deal of commentary, and as is frequently the case when discussing the real and perceived value of NASA, supporters proclaim that NASA must be given the resources it needs because one of its missions is to inspire students to become scientists and engineers. Here are just two examples of the "inspire" mantra:
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Written by Jeff Krukin
Tuesday, 09 June 2009
Sen. Richard Shelby (R. - Ala.) is unhappy because NASA Administrator Christopher Scolese intends to use $150 million of the $400 million NASA received as part of the stimulus package to support the development of commercial space transportation for delivering cargo and personnel to the space station. His rationale reveals an astounding lack of historical perspective.
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