A report on yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony from Marcia Smith. And another from Eric Berger. He seems to be off to a good start. I think he’ll be one of the best administrators NASA has had. He’ll certainly be refreshing after Charlie “Muslim Outreach” Bolden (Note: That was never actually a thing, but his idiotic interview with Al Jazeera made it hard to defend otherwise good space policy from the Obama administration).
Earth is an intelligence test: Small enough that leaving the planet with chemical rockets is possible, but big enough that it’s very very difficult. https://t.co/ofpo0k26xApic.twitter.com/44w1AzVsFX
I’ve never abandoned this blog, but I have been posting to it a lot less, for a number of reasons (less time, other outlets). I didn’t move to Facebook, but I do spend a lot more time on Twitter.
Along with the “liberals” on the court, he just struck a blow against it. As Will says, it would be nice to see the conservative justices see the light. But I suspect many conservatives will rail against him, calling him a “liberal,” “soft on crime and illegal aliens.”
[Update a while later]
This seems related: The SEC’s administrative judge scandal. I’d love to see this sort of thing struck down as unconstitutional. Same with the IRS tax court.
It looks like a significant improvement over the current situation. It’s worth noting that in moving regulation to the Commerce Department, it could set the groundwork for a U.S. Space Guard. There have been times in history in which the Coast Guard was under Commerce.
I think he’ll be one of the best administrators in recent history. I should add that Rubio’s (and others’, like Bill Nelson’s) statement that NASA should be run by a “space professional” are historically ignorant. Jim Webb was not a “space professional.”