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Obama to name first African-American NASA administrator, former astronaut Charles Bolden?
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UPDATE: I just asked Charlie Bolden about the rumor that he might be named to head NASA.
"I'm incredibly honored my name would be floated around. But nobody's talked to me, no one in an official capacity. And I haven't been contacted by the transition team," Bolden said.
Original story follows.
Long-time space correspondent Jay Barbree has taken the lead in voicing one of the hottest stories swirling around NASA: the possibility that President-Elect Barack Obama will choose former astronaut Charles "Charlie" Bolden to head NASA.
Major General Bolden, USMC, Ret., has a stellar record. He's a veteran of four space shuttle missions, and also worked behind the scenes on many vital NASA projects. He also was tapped for leadership roles, both within NASA and the Marine Corps.
I know Charlie, and I can't think of anyone better to lead NASA. He has great people skills, technical know-how, and both flight and management experience.
Here's a brief out-take from his official NASA bio:
STS-61C Space Shuttle Columbia. During the six-day flight crew members deployed the SATCOM KU satellite and conducted experiments in astrophysics and materials processing. STS-61C launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on January 12. The mission was accomplished in 96 orbits of Earth, ending with a successful night landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on January 18, 1986.
STS-31 Space Shuttle Discovery. Launched on April 24, 1990, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During the five-day mission, crew members deployed the Hubble Space Telescope and conducted a variety of middeck experiments. They also used a variety of cameras, including both the IMAX in cabin and cargo bay cameras, for Earth observations from their record-setting altitude over 400 miles. Following 75 orbits of Earth in 121 hours, STS-31 Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on April 29, 1990.
On STS-45 Bolden commanded a crew of seven aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis. Launched on March 24 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-45 was the first Spacelab mission dedicated to NASA's Mission to Planet Earth. During the nine-day mission, the crew operated the twelve experiments that constituted the ATLAS-1 (Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science) cargo. ATLAS-1 obtained a vast array of detailed measurements of atmospheric chemical and physical properties, which contribute significantly to improving our understanding of our climate and atmosphere. In addition, this was the first time an artificial beam of electrons was used to stimulate a man-made auroral discharge. Following 143 orbits of Earth, STS-45 Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 2, 1992.
On STS-60 he commanded a crew of six aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. This was the historic first joint U.S./Russian Space Shuttle mission involving the participation of a Russian Cosmonaut as a mission specialist crew member. The flight launched on February 3, 1994, from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and carried the Space Habitation Module-2 (Spacehab-2), and the Wake Shield Facility-01 (WSF-1). Additionally, the crew conducted a series of joint U.S./Russian science activities. The mission achieved 130 orbits of the Earth, ending with a landing on February 11, 1994, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
Controversy has swirled around current administrator Dr. Mike Griffin. If someone is needed to heal wounds and bring together feuding groups of people, Charlie is definitely the man for the job.
Prediction--if he wants the job, Charlie Bolden will be the next NASA administrator.
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