Keith’s note: Last week two internal NASA directives dropped – except NASA has yet to officially release them: NASA Commercial LEO Space Stations Acquisition Strategy and Directive on Fission Surface Power (FSP) Development.
- From what I have managed to piece together these things were pitched in an end run directly to Sean Duffy – outside of the usual process of surfacing such things to the Administrator – especially in Directive form ready for signature. Both directives were signed on the same day – surprising everyone. Associate Administrators and Center Directors were not alerted or asked for comment. And in the case of the CLD directive, industry was left in the dark and they are not happy.
- Meanwhile, Congress is wondering what passes for planning and transparency at NASA given that the agency is actually adhering to the PBR being the scenes – but saying that they are adhering to Congressional budget intentions when pressed for public content. NASA cant have it both ways.
- Both directives built upon some ideas that had been developed over the past several years and have been kicking around NASA in one form or another. Chief of Staff Brian Hughes has zero experience with spaceflight engineering – so he leans heavily on a couple of his favorite people for ad hoc Rocket Science 101 to find exciting things to pass on to Duffy.
- Duffy is a part timer. Hughes is a gate keeper. NASA needs a real, full time leader – now.
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