SPACE fans who think NASA should get as much cash as it takes to explore the
final frontier need to get a grip on reality, says outgoing NASA boss Dan
Goldin.
In his last week in office鈥攁nd with no successor lined up as New
Scientist went to press鈥擥oldin took a final swipe at critics of his
term at NASA. 鈥淪pace lovers have got to get a grip,鈥� he said in an interview
published in the Huntsville Times鈥攖he local newspaper covering
the area around NASA鈥檚 Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. 鈥淧eople are more
concerned about their jobs and educating their children than the inspiration of
a space programme.鈥�
Goldin confirmed that the end of the bloated development programme for the
International Space Station in 2003 will probably be followed by 鈥渟ignificant
downsizing鈥�, involving job losses at the space agency. 鈥淣ASA doesn鈥檛 exist for
the fun and lifestyles of people who work on the programme,鈥� he reminded the
newspaper. 鈥淚t exists for the wants and needs of the American people.鈥�
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When asked why he had never managed to get any increases in NASA鈥檚 annual
budget, Goldin really let fly. He said a NASA that politicked for more money
would be as unedifying a spectacle as 鈥渁 self-licking ice cream cone鈥�.
Goldin鈥檚 replacement will also need to placate Canada and Japan鈥檚 concern
that ISS cost overruns are jeopardising the project鈥檚 completion. Canada is
demanding that NASA meet its obligations to its ISS partners, while there are
concerns that cuts could endanger Japan鈥檚 plan for a laboratory module.
Critics were unimpressed with Goldin鈥檚 comments. Keith Cowing, editor of the
online bulletin NASA Watch, called them 鈥渟mug and selfish鈥�.