Michael Griffin
Michael Griffin
This prominent aerospace engineer and physicist served from 2005 until 2009 as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Previously, he had headed Johns Hopkins University's Space Department.
ProfessionEngineer
Date of Birth1 November 1949
apollo build designs far foundation greater proven shuttle spacecraft systems
This spacecraft and systems will build upon the foundation of the proven designs and technologies used in the Apollo and space shuttle programs, while having far greater capability.
apollo
It is very Apollo-like ... but bigger. Think Apollo on steroids.
apollo unless vehicle wants
Think of it as Apollo on steroids, ... Unless the U.S. wants to get out of manned spaceflight completely, this is the vehicle we need to be building.
apollo
Think of it as Apollo on steroids. But understand, we did not set out to make it look like Apollo.
apollo folks
By and large, the Apollo folks got it right,
It was wonderful; it was magnificent; it was beautiful.
amazing america brilliant difficult humans machine shuttle station
As I have often said publicly, the shuttle is the most amazing machine humans have ever built, and it has been the recipient of the most brilliant engineering that America can provide. The station is a more difficult engineering project, by far, than was Apollo,
addressing launch shuttle
Right now, we're still addressing what the implications are on the shuttle launch schedule, and if I say I don't know what those are, that's an understatement.
deal future investment problems program space
The space program is a long-term investment in our future. We must deal with our short-term problems without sacrificing our long-term investments in our future.
future investment program space
The space program is a long-term investment in our future,
delay entire existence friend program space tom
The space program has had no better friend in its entire existence than Tom DeLay. He's still with us and we need to keep him there.
almost envision flight full order rate schedule slack start
We have substantial schedule slack at this point, almost a full year. So we would have to have substantial difficulties that we do not now envision in maintaining our flight rate in order to start any consideration of contingency plans.
begin maybe objects region scientists within
It is fantastically interesting to me to have a chance, maybe within my lifetime, for scientists to see up-close what those objects look like and to begin our reconnaissance of that region of space.
agency announce entirely executing executive federal fit frame particular political required scientific scientists tone views whatever work
It is entirely appropriate for the administration to announce or espouse whatever political views they have. It is not appropriate for scientists at an executing federal executive agency to be required to adjust, skew, alter, or frame the tone of their scientific work to fit any particular political agenda.