FILE - This Tuesday, July 19, 2011 image provided by NASA shows the International Space Station photographed by a member of Atlantis' STS-135 crew during a fly around as the shuttle departed the station on the last space shuttle mission. A panel of outside experts said Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 that NASA is adrift without a coherent vision for where it should be going. The report by the National Academy of Sciences doesn't blame the space agency. It faults the president, Congress and the nation. (AP Photo/NASA)
Expert panel: NASA seems lost in space, needs goal
FILE - This Tuesday, July 19, 2011 image provided by NASA shows the International Space Station photographed by a member of Atlantis' STS-135 crew during a fly around as the shuttle departed the station on the last space shuttle mission. A panel of outside experts said Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 that NASA is adrift without a coherent vision for where it should be going. The report by the National Academy of Sciences doesn't blame the space agency. It faults the president, Congress and the nation. (AP Photo/NASA)
By SETH BORENSTEIN
AP Science Writer /
December 5, 2012
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Syracuse University public policy professor W. Henry Lambright, who wasn’t part of the latest study but has written about space policy, said Obama has not sold NASA, Congress or the country on his plan.
‘‘I really think it’s Obama’s fault,’’ Lambright said. NASA ‘‘is suffering from benign neglect.’’
American University policy professor Howard McCurdy, who also wasn’t on the panel, said he sees the problem more as a lack of money than a lack of goals.
The report said NASA does not have enough money for its too many projects and has difficulty managing its 10 centers efficiently.
In his statement, NASA’s Weaver said: ‘‘We’re fully utilizing the International Space Station; developing a heavy-lift rocket and multi-purpose crew vehicle capable of taking American astronauts into deep space; facilitating development of commercial capabilities for cargo and crew transport to low Earth orbit; expanding our technological capabilities for the human and robotic missions of today and tomorrow; pursuing a robust portfolio of science missions such as the James Webb Space Telescope; developing faster and cleaner aircraft and inspiring the next generation of exploration leaders.’’
Smith said that statement itself shows the problem: ‘‘If it takes you that many phrases to explain it, then you do not have a crisp, clear strategic vision.’’
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Online:
The report: http://bit.ly/TI405v
NASA: www.nasa.gov
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Seth Borenstein can be followed at http://twitter.com/borenbears
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