Obama Names Ex-Astronaut to Head NASA

In typical fashion, President Barack Obama found a well-qualified candidate to head the nation's space program. Naturally, he selected an astronaut!

The story from CNN.com:

WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Barack Obama on Saturday announced plans to nominate an African-American astronaut to fill NASA's administrator post.

He is Charles Bolden, a retired Marine general who had been selected in 1980 as an astronaut, flying two space shuttle missions as pilot and two missions as commander.

After the Challenger accident in 1986, Gen. Bolden had been named the chief of the safety division at the Johnson Space Center "with responsibilities for overseeing the safety efforts in the return-to-flight efforts," the White House said.

According to the White House, Bolden began his service in U.S. Marine Corps in 1968 and "flew more than 100 sorties in Vietnam from 1972-73."

Bolden is now chief executive officer of JackandPanther LLC, a privately-held military and aerospace consulting firm, the White House said.

Obama also announced plans to nominate Lori Garver, as deputy administrator of NASA. She was lead civil space policy adviser for Obama and helped lead the Agency Review Team for NASA during the presidential transition.

She has served as NASA's associate administrator of the Office of Policy and Plans and primary NASA spokeswoman.

"These talented individuals will help put NASA on course to boldly push the boundaries of science, aeronautics and exploration in the 21st century and ensure the long-term vibrancy of America's space program," Obama said in a
statement released by the White House.

~ ~ ~

plez sez: i was a co-operative education student with NASA (at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia) when i was in college. i had some aspirations to join the space program until i realized that none of the astronauts who i met were even close to six feet tall (and i am 6'4")!

i had the pleasure of meeting General Bolden in the early 80's, as a number of jet pilots and astronauts frequented Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base to test aircraft. i do recall meeting two of the recently selected Black astronauts (Bluford and Bolden) during my time there. those guys (all of the astronauts) were super sharp, so i have no doubt that NASA is in good hands.

~ ~ ~

plezWorld is still kind of puzzled as to WHY CNN.com had to highlight the fact that Gen. Bolden was a Black astronaut in their article? if the media is watching... it is definitely time to move on from "racial profiling" of figures in the news. it added NOTHING to the story!

~ ~ Citations ~ ~

Read the CNN.com article about Gen. Bolden nominated to head NASA.

Read the AJC.com article about Gen. Bolden selected by Obama to head NASA.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Snatched from the Headlines I

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is eager to meet President-elect Barack Obama
Russian President Medvedev said that a "crisis of confidence" exists between Russia and the United States, but that he has "great aspirations" for the incoming Obama administration.

plez sez: it appears NO ONE can wait for OBAMA to take office, even the russians are giddy about an Obama administration. plezWorld is still trolling for Inauguration Tickets - who has two?!?

Obama names key advisor
It was not much of a surprise that longtime friend of Barack and Michelle Obama, Valerie Jarret, has been appointed as a senior adviser to the incoming president. Jarrett is co-chairwoman of Obama's transition team and was senior adviser for his presidential campaign. In a statement released Saturday morning by his transition staff, Obama announced that Jarrett will serve as "senior adviser and assistant to the president for intergovernmental relations and [will serve as a] public liaison."

plez sez: it's good to reward friends who stuck it out from the early hours of the campaign to its conclusion for their dedication.

Rumors abuzz about top cabinet spot in Obama administration
President-elect Barack Obama has spoken with two former rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination about the secretary of state position in his administration, sources told CNN on Friday. Obama spoke with Sen. Hillary Clinton on Thursday and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday about the key Cabinet post, multiple Democratic sources said.

plez sez: this move may be an attempt keep hillary (and bill) on the reservation through the end of his first term... and then all bets are off.

NASA Space Shuttle Update
NASA said Saturday that the day-old mission of space shuttle Endeavour, which is carrying seven astronauts to the international space station, is going smoothly despite problems with a lost thermal blanket and a malfunctioning antenna. Launch director Mike Leinbach said that, on Day 2, the mission is going "extremely well" after a flawless takeoff and ascent during a rare nighttime launch Friday.

plez sez: i worked at NASA when i was in college (as a co-op student); i'm still interested in our work exploring the heavens above.

Spending records in Georgia Senate runoff
Georgia’s high-profile U.S. Senate runoff could burn up more than $15 million in its four-week sprint to decide a winner, possibly surpassing the money the campaigns spent in the general election. The campaigns of Democrat Jim Martin of Atlanta and incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Moultrie disagreed Saturday on who is raising and spending the most campaign money. But both agreed that their Dec. 2 runoff could break post-election spending records.

plez sez: john mccain, possibly sarah palin, and maybe even the big guy himself, PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA, may be falling through georgia in the coming weeks as the democrats and republicans turn us into a senatorial battleground state. i plan to vote on monday, that's when early voting starts for the runoff.

First Mars Pic

Picture courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

The NASA Phoenix Mars Lander touched down on Mars's surface just after 8:00 PM EST on Sunday evening after a 9 month journey. It appears to be working as planned and has sent back a few pictures.

Read the New York Times article on the Phoenix Mars landing here.


plez sez: i propose that we get the heck out of iraq and spend some of that wasted money on sending a man to mars!

USA 193 Spy Satellite Shot Down

A US spy satellite that died soon after its launch in December 2006 was beginning a slow and certain descent into the Earth's atmosphere. The danger of this satellite was the toxic fuel it had stored in its tanks, if it were to fall to Earth, the fuel's contact with humans could prove fatal. The decision was made to launch a modified heat seeking warhead from a naval vessel into space to destroy it.

A approximately 10:30 PM EST, a single missile was fired from the USS Lake Erie and the missile hit the satellite as it traveled at more than 17,000 miles per hour, as reported by the Pentagon. It is believed that the debris from the explosion will circle the Earth for a day or two before finally burning up upon reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. Pentagon sources have assured the world community that the fuel tank - the main reason for the missile launch - was destroyed.

Read the entire New York Times article here.

Computer Generated Simulation of Missile Launch & Hit

plez sez: can you say "Star Wars"? i thought you could...

i'm a skeptic... so sue me... but what isn't the pentagon telling us: what the heck was REALLY on that satellite that they don't want anyone to know about? i'm not really buying this hoo-ey about toxic fuel, satellites of various sizes crash to the Earth a lot and what makes the fuel on this one any more toxic than any other? the space shuttle was just up in space, why couldn't it have been used to pluck it out of orbit (unless the pentagon didn't want NASA looking up their skirts)?

what are "they" hiding from us?!? don't say that i didn't tell you, but there was probably something captured on that satellite that our government doesn't want ANYONE to know about... and they couldn't risk whatever it is coming back to Earth intact! ...and don't ask me how i know these things! *wink*