bringing freedom and democracy to oppressed star systems everywhere

NASA's previous administrator, Dr. Sean O'Keefe, stepped down a little while ago. The position has yet to be officially filled, but apparently the writing is most definitely on the wall. Barring some major calamity, Dr. Michael Griffin will be the next NASA Administrator. However, his prepared statement left a bad taste in my mouth. The paragraph that pretty much sums it up is this:

"In the twenty-first century and beyond, for America to continue to be preeminent among nations, it is necessary for us also to be the preeminent spacefaring nation. Or are we willing to accept the world of a generation or two hence where other nations will be engaged in the development of the Solar System, and we are not? If not, then it is time to recognize that we have squandered a once-insurmountable lead in the arts and sciences of spaceflight. The best we can say for ourselves today is that our grounded Space Shuttle is much more sophisticated than the operational vehicles belonging to the two nations which have sent people into space since we have last done so."

He then cordially acknowledges the Russians for basically holding the entire International Space Station together for the past two years. (which NASA has incidentally spent going "oh me! oh my! You mean space travel's dangerous? But that's the opposite of what we've spent a decade getting you to believe! We didn't sign up for this! oh me! oh my!") Don't worry, though, he promptly suggests that Big, Beautiful America need no longer rely on any other nations for critical spacefaring systems.

The whole thing has a hugely colonial bent to it that leaves no doubt in my mind as to why Bush nominated this particular guy for the job. Pardon me, but it's always been my belief that any effort to explore the space beyond our planet should be an effort made by the whole planet, benefitting everyone. Not a heated competition amongst its petty nation-states to get the biggest piece of the cosmic pie.