NASA Internal Email From Mark Geyer: The Future
From: Geyer, Mark S. (JSC-ZV111)
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 3:20 PM
To: JSC-DL-CxCEV-Extended; Hanley, Jeffrey M. (JSC-ZA111); Thomas, L. Dale (MSFC-DA01)
Cc: Coats, Michael {Jsc-Center-Director}(JSC-AA111)
Subject: The future
Orion Team,
A few news bureaus and bloggers have been reporting on some major changes coming our way. Sometimes the number of reports gives the impression of validity when in fact they are all reporting on the same rumor. I can tell you that I have not received any direction or information that would confirm what they are saying. That being said, it wouldn’t surprise me to find out that there will be some changes announced next week and that they may be significant. Again, I have no specific information on what that might be.
So the question is how should we react? First of all, I had the pleasure of working on the space station for many years. That program was redesigned many times and actually renamed at least twice. There was also a time when it was maligned for its reliance on international partners. Now it is held up as a great engineering achievement and its international structure noted as a role model for how the agency should proceed. I agree with those conclusions by the way. It’s a funny world.
Secondly, those that think deeply about this subject, know that the ability to fly people into space is critical for a world power. We see this manifested in the drive by emerging powers to achieve that capability. However, you are in a very small group of people who has actually created this capability in the past and/or are the leaders in enabling this capability for the United States in the future. You should be proud of that, and I am confident your hard work will not be wasted. The leadership team from Doug Cooke on down will work with General Bolden to develop a strategy from whatever direction we are given. I will share this with you as soon as I can. I continue to tell people that my favorite part of the job is working with the great people who make up the Orion project. Thanks for all of your hard work. More to come.
MG
