CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA
shuffled shuttle program management Friday, sending its chief off to a newly
created post and installing his deputy in the top spot.
Wayne Hale, who played a
pivotal role in NASA's recovery from the 2003 Columbia accident, will
lead a new office responsible for developing strategies for a smooth transition
between shuttle and International Space Station operations and moon missions.
NASA plans to finish the
station and retire its aging shuttle fleet in 2010, a move that will trigger
significant job losses, including 2,500 to 3,500 at Kennedy Space Center,
according to local government estimates.
A five-year hiatus in NASA
human spaceflight is projected before the U.S. sends astronauts back
to the moon by 2020.
A talented engineer who is
considered articulate and inspirational, Hale will focus on communicating NASA
transition strategies to agency and contractor workers and the public.
"His eloquence
certainly lends to his credibility, and he has the credentials to deal with
transition activities and convey them as a representative of the agency,"
NASA spokesman Kyle Herring said.
His replacement is John
Shannon, a former flight director who has been serving as deputy shuttle
program manager.
"John Shannon is
completely ready to take the reins in NASA's most critical program," Hale
said in a statement. "His leadership skills are well established, and the
shuttle program will do well under his care."
Published
under license from FLORIDA TODAY. Copyright: 2008 FLORIDA TODAY. No portion of
this material may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of FLORIDA TODAY.
advertisement
