There are two points about this letter from General Lyles to Frank Wolf about NASA’s funding priorities. First, if I were Congressman Wolf, I wouldn’t know what to do with it. It seems pretty vague on actual recommendations:
The burden of proof thus now lies with Congress and NASA to define and to develop a human spaceflight program that does not re-inflict damage on the breadth of NASA’s activities and that serves the nation well. It is possible to do this.
If you don’t think that such a program exists now, it would be helpful it if were a little more specific about in what way it’s deficient. If it’s possible to make it so, couldn’t the general have provided a little guidance? It’s not clear exactly what the source of his unhappiness is, other than that he thinks that manned space is now “under-resourced.” What does that mean? Just send more money?
The other interesting thing about the letter is that he sent it to Frank Wolf, the ranking member, rather than Alan Mollohan, the chairman (who may lose his primary tomorrow). Is this a sign, like David Obey’s resignation, that he expects Wolf to be committee chairman next year?
that he earns miles on his frequent liar account, may be in serious trouble.
Funny
Not to mention that “burden of proof” invokes an implication of a fact based discussion… as if Congress has ever had one of those.
I suspect General Lyles, Dr Fisk, and Dr Colladay sent their letter to Congressman Wolf rather than Chairman Mollohan because it was intended as an “unofficial” statement of opinion rather than a formal document intended for inclusion in the eventual report. They have a concern, they’ve expressed it, Wolf can make the fact known to other committee members, and Mollohan can make up his own mind on taking things any further.
And that seems to fit with the closing vagueness. They aren’t eager to defend Constellation as it was, they aren’t happy with Obama’s alternative. They want Something Else, without perhaps agreeing themselves on what that something should be, and suggest that Congress should concern itself directly in forming a new space plan.
So I speculate.
Given Wolf is already aposing the plan, this letter (from someone respected and placed on the presidents Augustine commision) gives Wolf ammunition and political cover.
.. along with Armstrong, Cernan, etc..
Kelly,
Yes, and if he’s the Subcommittee’s chair next year it could get very interesting.
8)
Given how unpopular Obamas plan is – and Obama doesn’t seem to want to spend much political capital on it, I wonder what NASA direction will bein a budget or two?