NASA, what’s the problem?

Not the most original title per se, but it is fitting for the recent decision by NASA big whigs to skip Johnson Space Center in Houston in their recent retirement of the Space Shuttles.

While much could be said about the decision, one thing that occured to me early on is that Texas went red in 2010.  All of the sites chosen (New York, California, Florida and DC) went blue in 2010.

I’m not saying that their decision was based on politics … but then again I’m not, not saying that.   I just find it curious, that’s all.

So not only is Johnson Space Center getting gutted at the end of the Shuttle Program but the fleet of ships that they nurtured, trained for and flew will leave them jobless but will also simply leave them.

Now three of the destinations for the shuttles were understandable.  Florida is where the shuttles were launched.  They were built in California (and that is a major tourist destination), and DC – wells its the capital of the country and its the Smithsonian.  But New York?  The Intrepid Something or rather.  Never heard of it.  This is the decision that stinks of politics.  Besides if someone is in New York and they really want to see a shuttle, DC is just a few hours away.

But for us here in Texas (BTW I go with my students each year to Johnson Space Center) and all of the flyover states – well we got flown over once again.