Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin Slams Obama Administration

Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin invokes Mark Twain's walking, quacking duck to call out the Obama administration for grounding America's manned space flight program. Griffin, speaking at a symposium in Huntsville, AL, flatly declares that the current administration "does not want NASA" to have a human spaceflight program.

I've disagreed with some of Griffin's positions in the past. But this time, he's right--and a standing ovation to him for calling things as they are.



Here's one radically logical suggestion to keep the International Space Station staffed as the Russians sort out their space vehicle problems. There's an eager, well-trained corps of space workers still available to support such a mission. Let's use them and their talents before layoffs disperse them to the four winds.

First Woman Space Station Commander & Team Launched

Flames danced against the dawning sky as the International Space Station's first woman commander and team mates were launched successfully from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, and Russian guest space traveler Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, are on orbit after their Soyuz rocket hurled them into space. Whitson, the incoming Expedition 16 commander, joins NASA's long list of "firsts" for women in space and diversity in space.

Shukor is Malaysia's first space visitor. A doctor, he got his ride as part of a complicated trade involving Malaysia's purchase of Soviet fighter jets. Malenchenko is a space veteran who earlier commanded an expedition.

The spacecraft will dock with the Zarya module about 10:22 a.m. EDT Friday.

Photo: courtesy of NASA

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