JEFFREY KLUGER: Does Obama Want to Ground NASA’s Next Moon Mission?

Some critical thoughts from Rand Simberg. “A Big Sloppy Wet Kiss: That’s what Jeff Kluger gives to NASA and the Bush administration in this Time piece.”

Kluger’s certainly unfair to Lori Garver, who’s handling Obama’s transition on space. She was Executive Director of the National Space Society back when I was what passed for a CEO in that organization, and while we’ve had our disagreements over the years, she’s very smart, she’s very capable, and she knows a lot about NASA and space, and not just from having served as a NASA Associate Administrator. Also, the notion that she doesn’t support manned space is silly. I was just remarking to the Insta-Wife yesterday that I was very happy that Lori Garver was handling space transition matters for Obama, and I doubt he could have found anyone better.

I don’t think Mike Griffin is a bad guy, either — and I think his heart is in the right place — but I don’t think he’s been a success at NASA, and I don’t think that this press offensive is going to help him, or NASA, or the cause of humans in space.

UPDATE: Jerry Pournelle: “I have not seen Lori since the first flight of the DC/X, which is some years ago. She was there as head of the NSS, with a new baby, out in the White Sands high desert, which ought to be some indication of her determination and enthusiasm. She’s a lot more sympathetic to NASA than I am, but I think no government monopolist.” Not enough of a NASA fan for Mike Griffin and Jeffrey Kluger, apparently.