QuoteThings might change if Gerstenmaier bestows his blessing on the SpaceX Starship. If the Space Launch System runs into some of the same problems that other Boeing vehicles, such as the Starliner and the 737-Max have, then with any luck, the SpaceX Starship will be available as a Plan B. Gerstenmaier could serve an invaluable role in selling the Starship, not only to NASA, but to other customers. The United States is not the only country with lunar aspirations. One can imagine the European Space Agency or perhaps the Gulf Arab States leasing a Starship to send an expedition to the lunar surface.Gerstenmaier could serve as the ultimate rainmaker for SpaceX. A rainmaker is usually a senior partner at a law firm whose role is to drum up business by virtue of who he or she knows. Bill Gerstenmaier knows a lot of people, many of who may be willing to spend money to obtain the services that SpaceX has to offer.Interesting that the author thinks SpaceX hired Gerstenmaier for his rolodex.Also: oof those reader comments.
Things might change if Gerstenmaier bestows his blessing on the SpaceX Starship. If the Space Launch System runs into some of the same problems that other Boeing vehicles, such as the Starliner and the 737-Max have, then with any luck, the SpaceX Starship will be available as a Plan B. Gerstenmaier could serve an invaluable role in selling the Starship, not only to NASA, but to other customers. The United States is not the only country with lunar aspirations. One can imagine the European Space Agency or perhaps the Gulf Arab States leasing a Starship to send an expedition to the lunar surface.Gerstenmaier could serve as the ultimate rainmaker for SpaceX. A rainmaker is usually a senior partner at a law firm whose role is to drum up business by virtue of who he or she knows. Bill Gerstenmaier knows a lot of people, many of who may be willing to spend money to obtain the services that SpaceX has to offer.
There are very good reasons for SpaceX to hire Gerst totally unrelated to the fact that he formerly presided over an organization giving government money to SpaceX.But he did preside over an organization giving government money to SpaceX. I think it's improper for him to later get benefits from SpaceX because of that.It's like a lawyer with a case before a judge meeting alone with the judge. There might be perfectly good reasons for that to happen that have nothing to do with the case. But it's still improper. It's important to have a clear rule against such things, to secure against the possibility of corruption, even unconscious corruption.Even if everything with SpaceX and Gerst is innocent, the message it sends to other government employees, intended or not, is corrupting. It says that if they if SpaceX likes them, they can have a huge personal benefit for themselves later.Other big government aerospace contractors have been doing this for decades, and it was wrong then, and it's wrong now for it to be happening with SpaceX.EDIT: Note that I'm not saying this is illegal. I think it is legal. I think the laws on such conduct are insufficient.
After reading many posts here about Gerst, am I just wrong about my memory of Gerst actually "not" being a SpaceX fan while in NASA? I know everybody says that Gerst protected the two vendor thing for NASA, but my head canon remembers him being against SpaceX not for them. Am I just mis remembering?
Quote from: happyflower on 02/19/2020 06:24 pmAfter reading many posts here about Gerst, am I just wrong about my memory of Gerst actually "not" being a SpaceX fan while in NASA? I know everybody says that Gerst protected the two vendor thing for NASA, but my head canon remembers him being against SpaceX not for them. Am I just mis remembering?Mandella has it rightAfter Boeing’s OFT fiasco a Tweet from Lori Garver reminded people that Gerst wanted only one Commercial Crew vendor and alluded that he wanted that company to be Boeing
Here's a pro-tip for anyone who wants to understand what is happening within a organization:Ask.
Quote from: abaddon on 02/18/2020 07:48 pmSo you think it's fine to exclude someone like him from an entire industry, got it.Yeah... can't agree with that, at all. Shrug.That's the price of taking a government job, going out on a limb to defend SpaceX from scrutiny, get reassigned and then magically SpaceX starts hitting their timeline again.It's not only improper for Gerstenmaier to go work for SpaceX, it's abundantly clear that he has been actively shielding SpaceX for years and slowing down the start of commercial crew services. It's fair to assume that his job at SpaceX will involve doing the same.Pathological risk reduction.
So you think it's fine to exclude someone like him from an entire industry, got it.Yeah... can't agree with that, at all. Shrug.
Heard some good news yesterday on Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's former chief of human spaceflight. He loves it at SpaceX because he's doing real engineering again, outside the Beltway. Sleeves rolled up, diving into it, that sort of thing.
Great news and very well deservedhttps://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1260577039519711233QuoteHeard some good news yesterday on Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's former chief of human spaceflight. He loves it at SpaceX because he's doing real engineering again, outside the Beltway. Sleeves rolled up, diving into it, that sort of thing.
(September 5, 2020) e-Town Hall Meeting with Bill Gerstenmaier, Bruce Banerdt and Frank Czopek($4.95 each ticket) (No refund within 7 days of the event or after the event)Funds will be used for STEM activities and student awards/scholarships. For special needs to waive this fees, please contact [email snipped].September 5th, 2020, 10 AMAgenda/Schedule (September 5, 2020)10:05 AM Dr. Chandrashekhar Sonwane (AIAA LA LV Section Chair) (Welcome)10:10 AM Dr. Dan Dumbacher (AIAA Eexcutive Director)10:30 AM Dr. Bill Gerstenmaier (SpaceX)12:00 PM Dr. Bruce Banerdt (Mars InSight)1:30 PM Frank Czopek (Introduction to GPS and Pre-History of GPS)4:00 PM AdjournInternational Space Station’s critical role in enabling human exploration beyond low Earth orbitbyDr. William H. GerstenmaierSpaceXAIAA Honorary FellowFormer Associate Administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (NASA HQ) The InSight Mission to MarsbyJPL Mission Principal InvestigatorDr. Bruce BanerdtNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory(Landed at Elysium Planitia on November 26, 2018)Introduction to GPS & Pre-History of GPSbyFrank Czopek
[bio snipped]Station is often recognized for being an engineering marvel, playing a key role in international cooperation, and for having crews continuously on board for almost 20 years. This presentation will focus on the key role that ISS is playing in enabling human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. ISS obviously can enable testing of spacecraft systems that must work for the extended journey’s beyond low Earth orbit. This presentation will discuss many subtle and critical aspects that are not commonly attributed to ISS. It is often stated that the funds spent of ISS would be better spent directly on human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. This presentation will provide an alternate viewpoint and show that ISS today is contributing in ways that could be critical to the future success.
Gerstenmaier warns against ending space station program prematurelyby Jeff Foust — September 8, 2020
He declined to go into specifics about his work at SpaceX, but said there’s less difference between work at the company versus that at NASA than one might expect, at least from a technical standpoint.“It’s interesting being on both sides,” he said. “The demands of human spaceflight are the same. The precision that we have to do every day to make sure our crews are safe, make sure the hardware works, are absolutely the same. There’s no forgiveness for mistakes or being lazy or not sharing. You have to be 100% focused. That’s what we’re working on at SpaceX: how do we transition and get ready to really establish a transportation system that normal people would be willing to use.”
Really awesome read. It seems Gerstenmaier is having the time of his life working at SpaceX compared to how limited he was before
I find this fascinating, since Gerst led human spaceflight at NASA for many years & could have championed changes to the program & procurement to incentivize the right behaviors much earlier. Glad he eventually supported & is now reaping the rewards.
Lori: I'm curious what you think Gerst could have done as NASA AA --with the Congress & OMB of the day--that would have positioned NASA to be in a better position than it is today, which in my 34-yrs of agency coverage, is pretty darn strong, compared to previous decades.
NASA establishment (including Gerst), didn't want the commercial crew program, preferred Ares/Orion & channeled their views to the Hill. As one of the most respected NASA voices, if he'd supported the Admin plan, others would have followed. More in the book on the details
Good spot!https://twitter.com/nasawatch/status/1587444094304935936QuoteHey look - its Gerst - with a headset! #SpaceX #FalconHeavy #USSF44
Hey look - its Gerst - with a headset! #SpaceX #FalconHeavy #USSF44
My first official SpaceX interview on my Ellie in Space channel. I chatted with longtime NASA veteran William Gerstenmaier who now works at #spacex @aiaa #AIAASciTech FULL INTERVIEW HERE:
