Planning Ahead For 2010

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin met with workers at Kennedy Space Center Friday to discuss upcoming job changes and cuts. He said that many jobs will have to change and some will be lost as the agency prepares to shut down the shuttle program and develop a new spaceship.

"I report to the president," said Griffin according to media reports. "The president has said we're retiring the orbiter by 2010, and that's what we're doing."

"Not everyone will transition," he said. "One of the main issues with the orbiter is how much it takes to care and feed the fleet."

Griffin warned employees that the transition will be a challenge. "You enter a period where you need to watch out for yourself, and you need to look out for new opportunities."

"The new system must have lower fixed costs," Griffin said of the proposed Crew Exploration Vehicle in a hearing before a Senate oversight committee Wednesday. "Lower fixed costs means a smaller work force."

Griffin said that he would be would be working to narrow the gap between the retirement of the shuttles and the replacement ship to reduce the loss of skilled workers. However, he will not rush the project.

"If it takes more than five years, then it does," said Griffin according to Florida Today. "It will take what it takes."

FMI: www.nasa.gov