NASA Re-Org
An article in arstechnica.com today discusses a major reorganization at NASA. Anyone know anything definitive about how this is going to effect JPL besides new management? The only mention of JPL seems a bit disparaging. We were always told JPL was more efficient than the other centers.
"One notable area where NASA will seek efficiencies is at the famed Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. This planetary research center is not operated by NASA but is instead a federally funded research and development center managed by the California Institute of Technology. This California-based university has operated the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, essentially without competition, since the 1950s. Its contract expires in 2028. Isaacman said the Department of Energy has had success with opening up competition to run its federally funded research and development centers, and he believes NASA can do the same.
To that end, NASA will open a competition through the Request for Proposals mechanism for other universities to come in and operate the NASA Laboratory. Institutions like Purdue University and Texas A&M University are likely to be interested, with NASA’s goal to maximize the amount of science done per dollar invested."
Hmmm - Anyone thinking SpaceX?