Gov-Elect Rick Scott stated recently that the cuts to the nation’s space program represented an “opportunity.” He said that the talented workforce that is being directed toward the unemployment line – would naturally go to other, new, aerospace companies. Scott must have been unaware of practices at United Space Alliance (USA) – that are forcing many former shuttle workers – out of the state.
These workers have highlighted a clause in their severance package. If they move away from Florida’s Space Coast and do not seek work in their area of expertise in the local area – they will continue to be paid. If they do find work in the space industry at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) – the severance payments are terminated.
It is therefore doubtful that many of these skilled engineers and workers will bother with Brevard County anymore. If workers find employment with either NASA or one of its contractors within a 50-mile radius of Kennedy Space Center – their funds are cut. According to USA this is to avoid workers collecting double from NASA. However, what about space program workers who were laid off in other parts of the country? This doesn’t appear to apply to them as they can find new space jobs and keep all of their severance packages.
It appears a concerted effort to remove NASA’s launch capabilities in and around KSC. The newly-elected Scott is either unaware of this tactic or has yet to understand the repercussions of such a policy. Some recognize that once this highly-skilled workforce has been forced out – they more than likely will not return. The incentive to continue working for NASA tends to diminish when one realizes they will be denied thousands of dollars for doing so.
Proponents of the new plan for NASA hope that these workers will find employment in the commercial space industry that has started to spring up. However, few companies, excluding SpaceX, have brought their businesses to KSC. Given that many of these companies’ philosophies are based on a simplified path to orbit (including a smaller workforce) it is dubious at best that former shuttle workers can find much work with the few new companies that actually have opened shop in or around KSC.
President Barack Obama, Senator Bill Nelson and former Rep. Suzanne Kosmas all pushed to move NASA onto this new path. Many viewed this as an intentional dismantling of the space infrastructure at Kennedy. With the recent revelation of the policies enforced by USA, these arguments gain added credibility. As to what Gov-Elect Scott views as an opportunity, one has to wonder just how well informed he is. After all, for workers to move to those space companies that are hiring – they would have to decide that it was worth the effort. Given the amount of energy that is being placed to have them leave the business – it is doubtful many will bother.
Comments
Do you seriously see a democratic "concerted effort to remove NASA's launch capabilities in and around KSC" and do you really believe that is somehow connected to USA's severance policy? Instead of hatching conspiracy theories, how about some constructive ideas?
Ellegood - Not a conspiracy theory. Instead of attacking the person that highlights the issues - take a look at the actions of the person causing them:
On the campaign trail stated he would cancel NASA funding for five years to support his education initiative.
When that tanked - he came to Brevard and promised to support VSE/Constellation.
When elected (and on the 7th anniversary of the Columbia disaster) announced plans to scrap every element of Constellation.
When the backlash from that caused him pause - visited KSC and tossed NASA an Orion cpasule as a 'Constellation Prize.'
Congress (or some elements of it at least) realized the issue and worked for a compromise.
Now we find out that highly skilled workers are forbidden to work within a 50 mile radius of KSC? They are forbidden for working for NASA contractors or NASA itself in the Space Coast region? If it was across the board - that would be one thing - the simple fact that it ONLY applies to KSC show that the Obama-Garver-Bolden team - is at it yet again.
I'm sorry that this is inconvenient for your personal political leanings. However, as a single-issue voter - I have no interest in EITHER party. For those of us not on one side of the camp or the other - it's pretty obvious what is taking place.
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This is a rather simplistic view of a rather generous severence package. The policy does not forbid you from working within 50 miles of space center, it forbids you from working within 50 miles of the space center and collecting severence pay. The idea being that if you have a job, you do not need to collect severence. Also this was done after increasing the severence package fsubstantially to a maximum of 26 weeks, and providing a generous completion bonus that is not dependent on the location clause. Both of which add up to a better severence package than is offered by any company I am aware of. If Rick Scott is worried about how the space workers are being treated, then he must have solved all of the other economic problems facing Florida.
Glad the reason behind this is so cut and dried to you though.
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