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Who will Obama name as NASA Administrator?

Settled as Charles Bolden

Obama picks ex-astronaut Bolden to lead NASA
Sat May 23, 2009 12:23pm EDT

Background:

Background: Background:
CATEGORY EDITOR CLARIFICATION
This market will have the suspend date moved out, Griffin is NOT the administrator currently, so even though a replacement has not been named, the conditions in settlement agreement do not allow for settlement as Griffin. Market will be suspended when a new NASA administrator is reported, but will settle only once the NASA administrator is in office.

Background: Current NASA head Michael Griffin is reportedly planning on leaving office once Barack Obama takes office, and it's not expected that Obama will ask Griffin to stay on. Griffin's administration has been controversial, with many questioning Griffin's push for the Ares launch system and reports of noncooperation from Griffin towards Obama's space transition team.

A number of possible new administrators have been discussed, some of whom are reportedly on the short-list of Obama's space transition team:

* Charles Bolden: astronaut and former shuttle commander, retired U.S. Marine Corps officer

* Sally Ride: first female American in space, known for science outreach work

* Alan Stern: planetary scientist, principal investigator of New Horizons mission to Pluto, former associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate

* Wesley Huntress: former NASA space science chief, key role in deployment of several science missions

* Scott Hubbard: known for turning around Mars program after series of failures, former director of NASA Ames

* Pete Worden: astrophysicist and retired USAF Brigadier General, advocate of engaging private sector

* Lori Garver: head of Obama's space transition team, former NASA Associate Administrator of Policy and Plans, past Executive Director of National Space Society, lead space policy advisor for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Kerry presidential campaigns

http://www.space.com/news/ft-090107-nasa-chief-steppingdown.html
http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=10183
http://www.transterrestrial.com/?p=15837

Settlement details:As reported by a major mainstream news source. This will be settled when an official announcement of the new NASA Administrator is made. If Michael Griffin is still Administrator on March 1 and a replacement has not been named, this question will settle on him.

 
Forecast history %
Charles Bolden
84%
Sally Ride
1%
Alan Stern
1%
Wesley Huntress
0%
Scott Hubbard
1%
Pete Worden
0%
Lori Garver
1%
Michael Griffin (current)
0%
Someone else
13%
Settled as Charles Bolden on Sat 23rd May 2:10pm PST

Suspend date: Wed 1st Jul 11:59pm PST
Settlement date: Sat 23rd May 2:10pm PST
Prediction cut-off: Predictions on this question after Sat 23rd May 8:25am PST have been voided because they were made after the question could be settled

Initial likelihoods: Charles Bolden: 35%, Sally Ride: 5%, Alan Stern: 5%, Wesley Huntress: 5%, Scott Hubbard: 5%, Pete Worden: 5%, Lori Garver: 5%, Michael Griffin (current): 15%, Someone else: 20%

Action history:

Created Wed 7th Jan 11:36pm PST by neuronexmachina
Changed Suspend date Sat 28th Feb 3:12pm PST by destry[Admin]: was: "2009-03-01 23:59:00"
Suspended Wed 1st Apr 11:59pm PST : Suspend date reached
Unsuspended Wed 15th Apr 7:11am PST by destry[Admin]
Changed Suspend date Wed 15th Apr 7:12am PST by destry[Admin]: was: "2009-04-01 23:59:00"
Settlement requested Sat 23rd May 11:26am PST by orlin: Charles Bolden

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE54M0ZQ20090523
Settlement requested Sat 23rd May 1:38pm PST by neuronexmachina: Charles Bolden nominated today: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/science/space/24nasacnd.html?ref=global-home
Settled as 'Charles Bolden' Sat 23rd May 2:10pm PST by destry[Admin]: Obama picks ex-astronaut Bolden to lead NASA
Sat May 23, 2009 12:23pm EDT

Suspend date: Wed 1st Jul 11:59pm PST
Settlement date: Sat 23rd May 2:10pm PST
Prediction cut-off: Predictions on this question after Sat 23rd May 8:25am PST have been voided because they were made after the question could be settled details

 

Predictions (296)

26 weeks ago
neuronexmachina predicted Charles Bolden (H$500 at 80%)
26 weeks ago
bigken1 predicted Someone else (H$1,500 at 51%)
26 weeks ago
neuronexmachina predicted Pete Worden (H$50 at 5%)
26 weeks ago
neuronexmachina predicted Alan Stern (H$20 at 0%)
26 weeks ago
bigken1 predicted Someone else (H$1 at 27%)

Comments (7)

Btw, if those responding "someone else" could comment on who they have in mind, that would be great!
posted 45 weeks ago
  2 tisha[Admin]
Great question - thanks neuronexmachina
posted 45 weeks ago
  3 frogchop
General (retired) Lester Lyles has come up, as well as General (retired) Scott Gration. There's just too many variables on this one, so other seems a reasonable choice, as does Bolden.
posted 39 weeks ago
  4 frogchop
Two working days until settlement and Griffin is still in office. Seems like a sure thing now.
posted 38 weeks ago
  5 frogchop
Nevermind... he resigned.
posted 38 weeks ago
I pulled this from here... http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/02/24/1807005.aspx

Who will the next NASA administrator be? That guessing game has been going on for weeks, focusing at various times on three retired military men: Air Force Gen. Lester Lyles, Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration and Marine Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden Jr. (who is also an ex-astronaut).

The rumor mill has churned out other names, including that of Steve Isakowitz, the Department of Energy's chief financial officer (and a former NASA official). But there may be still other prospects as well, and it's not clear when Obama will make his choice. "He's got a few other things to worry about," Logsdon deadpanned.
posted 38 weeks ago
My personal guess: Steven Squyres

I have heard from a total of 3 people that he is a possible serious candidate.
posted 33 weeks ago

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