NASA changes won't affect jobs here

Marshall, other centers realigned for efficiency

Friday, June 25, 2004

By SHELBY G. SPIRES

Times Aerospace Writer shelbys@htimes.com

The reorganization of NASA departments will not affect work or jobs at Marshall Space Flight Center, the head of the space agency said Thursday.

NASA is realigning its seven "strategic enterprises" to four "mission directorates" - Exploration Systems, Space Operations, Science, and Aeronautics Research - NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe said at a Washington, D.C., press conference. The changes take effect Aug. 1.

Marshall is one of four centers that now fall under Space Operations, O'Keefe said. The reorganization is not a negative for Marshall "either way," O'Keefe said. "It is more of a focus to how more efficiently make a program" operate.

The NASA "transformation" is designed to create a more supple organization to implement the Bush administration's call for renewed human exploration of the moon and Mars.

Marshall's main focus is managing the key propulsion elements of the space shuttle - the external fuel tank, space shuttle main engines and solid rocket boosters. Marshall also develops new engines and propulsion technology, such as nuclear-powered spacecraft.

Also included under Space Operations are Johnson Space Center in Texas, Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

O'Keefe said the new structure would not mean cutting or adding jobs across NASA. "I think the best we might hope for is a net-zero gain," he said.

A major change is the combination of space science and Earth science work. Both areas of research now will fall under the Science directorate. Ames Research Center near San Francisco, Goddard Space Flight Center near Washington, D.C., and the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Calif., will be under the Science mission.

At Marshall, 2,500 government employees support both science areas, but O'Keefe predicted little change in the amount of science work the space agency performs.

NASA's other field centers - Dryden Research Center in the Southern California desert, Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and Langley Research Center in Virginia - are part of the Aeronautics Research mission.

Huntsville lawyer Mark McDaniel, a member of the NASA Advisory Council, said the reorganization "should be good for the agency because it goes a long way to meeting recommendations laid out by the Aldridge Commission and the Columbia Accident Investigation Board," he said.

The Aldridge Commission, headed by former Air Force Secretary Pete Aldridge, was created by President Bush to find the best way for NASA to return to the moon and explore other planets such as Mars.

The commission released several key recommendations last week, including a suggestion that NASA should streamline its organization.

"The biggest thing that I have seen is when the president's commission started out on their quest to report back on NASA performance, they believed the centers were outdated and doing duplicate work," McDaniel said. "When they got through, and issued their findings, then their bottom line is that every center is unique and is a national resource. ... They think the agency needs more people."

While NASA's plan responds to some recommendations of the commission, O'Keefe was markedly lukewarm toward the commission in other areas.

The reorganization is "a work in progress," he said, noting that NASA has been bombarded with criticism since the space shuttle Columbia tragedy last year. "When something doesn't work," he said, "it's surprising how many people become expert in why it didn't."

He said NASA would look at the commission's recommendation that NASA put its various centers under private management and would make a decision "in the next weeks or months."

The Washington Post contributed to this report.




NASA changes won't affect jobs here Marshall, other centers realigned for efficiency Friday, June 25, 2004 By SHELBY G. SPIRES Times Aerospace Writer shelbys@htimes.com The reorganization of NASA departments will not affect work or jobs at Marshall Space Flight Center, the head of the space agency said Thursday. NASA is realigning its seven "strategic enterprises" to four "mission directorates" - Exploration Systems, Space Operations, Science, and Aeronautics Research - NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe said at a Washington, D.C., press conference. The changes take effect Aug. 1. Marshall is one of four centers that now fall under Space Operations, O'Keefe said. The reorganization is not a negative for Marshall "either way," O'Keefe said. "It is more of a focus to how more efficiently make a program" operate. The NASA "transformation" is designed to create a more supple organization to implement the Bush administration's call for renewed human exploration of the moon and Mars. Marshall's main focus is managing the key propulsion elements of the space shuttle - the external fuel tank, space shuttle main engines and solid rocket boosters. Marshall also develops new engines and propulsion technology, such as nuclear-powered spacecraft. Also included under Space Operations are Johnson Space Center in Texas, Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. O'Keefe said the new structure would not mean cutting or adding jobs across NASA. "I think the best we might hope for is a net-zero gain," he said. A major change is the combination of space science and Earth science work. Both areas of research now will fall under the Science directorate. Ames Research Center near San Francisco, Goddard Space Flight Center near Washington, D.C., and the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Calif., will be under the Science mission. At Marshall, 2,500 government employees support both science areas, but O'Keefe predicted little change in the amount of science work the space agency performs. NASA's other field centers - Dryden Research Center in the Southern California desert, Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and Langley Research Center in Virginia - are part of the Aeronautics Research mission. Huntsville lawyer Mark McDaniel, a member of the NASA Advisory Council, said the reorganization "should be good for the agency because it goes a long way to meeting recommendations laid out by the Aldridge Commission and the Columbia Accident Investigation Board," he said. The Aldridge Commission, headed by former Air Force Secretary Pete Aldridge, was created by President Bush to find the best way for NASA to return to the moon and explore other planets such as Mars. The commission released several key recommendations last week, including a suggestion that NASA should streamline its organization. "The biggest thing that I have seen is when the president's commission started out on their quest to report back on NASA performance, they believed the centers were outdated and doing duplicate work," McDaniel said. "When they got through, and issued their findings, then their bottom line is that every center is unique and is a national resource. ... They think the agency needs more people." While NASA's plan responds to some recommendations of the commission, O'Keefe was markedly lukewarm toward the commission in other areas. The reorganization is "a work in progress," he said, noting that NASA has been bombarded with criticism since the space shuttle Columbia tragedy last year. "When something doesn't work," he said, "it's surprising how many people become expert in why it didn't." He said NASA would look at the commission's recommendation that NASA put its various centers under private management and would make a decision "in the next weeks or months." The Washington Post contributed to this report. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.