Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 12/16/2009 09:10 amHowever, right now, all I want to hear from you is your recommendation as to the way forward. As Chief Administrator, where is NASA going?"No offense, but that's just not how things work in reality. It's not like the WH staff have no idea of what the options are or that Bolden himself can make a recommendation and his word will be taken for granted. There are processes that need to be adhered to. The discussion between Obama, Bolden and Holdren (yes, Holdren will be present) is not going to be a discussion of technical options or visions, but a discussion about processes going forward. Obama will brief Bolden about where NASA's budget will likely be and Holdren and Bolden will brief Obama about where the technical assessment is right now and where they are in finalizing the restructuring of the HSF part of NASA. They will then agree on a final time schedule for the announcement of the way forward, with the details being continuously fledged out between the WH staff, key Congress members and NASA - as it always is.
However, right now, all I want to hear from you is your recommendation as to the way forward. As Chief Administrator, where is NASA going?"
We can be sure it's a face-to-face meeting for some good reason.
It's been certainly hard to tell what direction Obama will give NASA, they've kept the lid on pretty tight about it.Other than vague, cryptic statements from Bolden, nothing much has changed in the past 6 months.Maybe something will leak out after this meeting, but I'm not so optimistic as to think something will.
Quote from: mikegi on 12/16/2009 03:06 pmQuote from: Ben the Space Brit on 12/16/2009 09:10 amObama is going to look Bolden in the eye and say: "I've read the studies and had my technical advisers look through all the data. I know the options and the recommendations from dozens of experts, both NASA and independent. I'm pretty clear on the benefits, drawbacks and risks. However, right now, all I want to hear from you is your recommendation as to the way forward. As Chief Administrator, where is NASA going?"Probably more like this: Obama, if he actually goes to the meeting room at all, will say,"Mr. .... [looks down at notecard] ... Bolden, is it? Yes, I think we need to be bold ... [looks at Science Advisor, who shakes his head] ... uh, fiscally responsible [smiles] ... in our space program. Work it out with my staff. See ya".People underestimate the importance of NASA. NASA's budget is only a little less than e.g. the whole budget of the Department of Energy or the whole budget of the Department of Agriculture.Do you think Obama will have his staff work out details of agriculture subsidies and regulations affecting 300 million Americans and hundreds of millions of other people outside of Americans without him being involved? Do you think the question of building new nuclear power plants and/or clean coal power plants and starting to implement a smart energy grid is just left to staffers without Obama being briefed on these subjects?People need to think about NASA not in terms of overall budget in relation to the total federal spending, they need to think about it in terms of how the R&D spending line item is treated within a technology company. In many industries R&D is extremely important, but still it only accounts for a small fraction of overall costs. Pfizer will expense much more on lobbying, marketing, managing, distribution, etc. than on R&D. But without R&D their company would just break down. That being said 1% or even 0.5% of a budget of an organization can be decisive for its future. To sum up, WH staffers and NASA have worked the issue for months now. Obama has been briefed on progress, options and plans on a continuous basis. High level discussions like these aren't singular events without context, they are there to focus the process and get things moving further.
Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 12/16/2009 09:10 amObama is going to look Bolden in the eye and say: "I've read the studies and had my technical advisers look through all the data. I know the options and the recommendations from dozens of experts, both NASA and independent. I'm pretty clear on the benefits, drawbacks and risks. However, right now, all I want to hear from you is your recommendation as to the way forward. As Chief Administrator, where is NASA going?"Probably more like this: Obama, if he actually goes to the meeting room at all, will say,"Mr. .... [looks down at notecard] ... Bolden, is it? Yes, I think we need to be bold ... [looks at Science Advisor, who shakes his head] ... uh, fiscally responsible [smiles] ... in our space program. Work it out with my staff. See ya".
Obama is going to look Bolden in the eye and say: "I've read the studies and had my technical advisers look through all the data. I know the options and the recommendations from dozens of experts, both NASA and independent. I'm pretty clear on the benefits, drawbacks and risks. However, right now, all I want to hear from you is your recommendation as to the way forward. As Chief Administrator, where is NASA going?"
Quote from: sdsds on 12/16/2009 04:55 pmWe can be sure it's a face-to-face meeting for some good reason. Not to sound harsh, but what part of Oval Office wasn't understood?It is DEFINITELY with the President.
What is the point of making this silly dialouge again and again?
For example, I do not expect the terms "Constellation" or "DIRECT" or "shuttle-derived" will be used.
Quote from: sdsds on 12/16/2009 05:56 pm For example, I do not expect the terms "Constellation" or "DIRECT" or "shuttle-derived" will be used.You are mistaken. Even high-level meetings in the Oval Office talk about details, and do not just exchange friendly greetings.
The president e.g. knows details about the report of the Augustine Committee, about NASA's HLV assessment, about alternatives and about time schedules - from briefings, memos and regular discussions with his science advisor and staff.Why do people somehow feel that once you get up the chain in an organization, the top doesn't know anything about smaller parts of said organization?
Obama will be looking for:costs for each choicetimetablejobsWe can only hope things like ISS utilization & shuttle extension enter into the discussion, but that may be a long shot.
But why do you think these people will cover again in person ground they have already traversed multiple times?
Oh, to be a fly on the Oval Office wall right now...
What is the point of conjecturing a conversation?
Quote from: Alpha Control on 12/16/2009 07:02 pmOh, to be a fly on the Oval Office wall right now...I'd rather be a person in the room than a fly...LOLYes, it would be something to hear, I'm sure.