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Obama names US space agency head | Obama names US space agency head |
(20 minutes later) | |
President Barack Obama has chosen retired astronaut Charles Bolden to lead Nasa, ending months of speculation over who would lead the space agency. | President Barack Obama has chosen retired astronaut Charles Bolden to lead Nasa, ending months of speculation over who would lead the space agency. |
Lori Garver, a former Nasa official and space adviser to the Obama campaign, was named as his deputy. Both positions require US Senate confirmation. | Lori Garver, a former Nasa official and space adviser to the Obama campaign, was named as his deputy. Both positions require US Senate confirmation. |
If confirmed, Maj-Gen Bolden, 62, would be only the second astronaut to lead Nasa during its 50-year history. | If confirmed, Maj-Gen Bolden, 62, would be only the second astronaut to lead Nasa during its 50-year history. |
Vice-Adm Richard Truly, who ran Nasa from 1989-1992, was the first. | Vice-Adm Richard Truly, who ran Nasa from 1989-1992, was the first. |
"He's a real leader," George Abbey, a former head of Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and friend of the major-general, told the Associated Press news agency. | "He's a real leader," George Abbey, a former head of Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and friend of the major-general, told the Associated Press news agency. |
"Nasa has been looking for a leader like this that they could have confidence in." | "Nasa has been looking for a leader like this that they could have confidence in." |
Challenges | Challenges |
Maj-Gen Bolden grew up in segregated South Carolina and flew on more than 100 combat sorties in Vietnam. | |
He joined Nasa in 1980 and is a veteran of four space shuttle flights. He commanded the mission that launched the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit in 1990. | |
He inherits the space agency at a critical time in its history. | He inherits the space agency at a critical time in its history. |
In 2004, President George W Bush instigated ambitious plans to return astronauts to the Moon by 2020, necessitating the replacement of the shuttle by a new space vehicle. | In 2004, President George W Bush instigated ambitious plans to return astronauts to the Moon by 2020, necessitating the replacement of the shuttle by a new space vehicle. |
However, the new Ares-Orion vehicle is not expected to be ready until 2015. | However, the new Ares-Orion vehicle is not expected to be ready until 2015. |
So for five years after the shuttle's retirement in 2010, American astronauts will be dependent on Russia to fly them into orbit on their space capsule, Soyuz. | So for five years after the shuttle's retirement in 2010, American astronauts will be dependent on Russia to fly them into orbit on their space capsule, Soyuz. |
In addition, some of Nasa's biggest science programmes are over-budget. | In addition, some of Nasa's biggest science programmes are over-budget. |
There has been uncertainty over the Obama administration's policy on space. | There has been uncertainty over the Obama administration's policy on space. |
But science adviser John Holdren has said the policy would be outlined after a Nasa chief was named. | But science adviser John Holdren has said the policy would be outlined after a Nasa chief was named. |
Earlier this year, retired Air Force General Scott Gration was said to be favoured for the position. However, his bid reportedly ran into opposition on Capitol Hill. | |
In April, the previous Nasa administrator, Dr Michael Griffin, joined the University of Alabama in Huntsville as a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering. | In April, the previous Nasa administrator, Dr Michael Griffin, joined the University of Alabama in Huntsville as a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering. |