May 27 2003
From The Space Library
NASA Chief of Staff and White House Liaison Courtney A. Stadd announced his resignation, effective 4 July 2003, to pursue opportunities in the private sector. NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe announced the appointment of John D. Schumacher to succeed Stadd as Chief of Staff. Stadd had led President George W. Bush's NASA transition team and had worked with two NASA administrators to help cast NASA's strategic direction. Schumacher brought invaluable experience and perspective to his new position. Since June 1995, he had served as NASA's Assistant Administrator for External Relations, with responsibility for NASA's interaction with Executive Branch offices and agencies, for international relations, and for administration of export and international technology-transfer control. In addition, he had served as a liaison with NASA's History Office, advisory councils, and commissions. (NASA, “Chief of Staff Courtney Stadd Announces Plans To Leave Agency,” news release 03-177, http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2003/may/HQ_03177_stadd.html (accessed 20 November 2008); NASA, “NASA Names New Chief of Staff,” news release 03-178, http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2003/may/HQ_03178_schumacher_chiefofstaf.html (accessed 20 November 2008).
European space ministers met at ESA headquarters in Paris to sign an agreement to save the Ariane 5 launcher program. The officials voted to re-obligate EUR 228 million (US$269 million) from an existing program to put the rocket's new version back on track for commercial service by late 2004. Additionally, they agreed to reimburse Ariane 5 contractors for many fixed costs of maintaining their plants and equipment between 2005 and 2009, a measure expected to keep the industry afloat with the injection of EUR 960 million (US$1 billion) while waiting for the commercial launch market to improve. (Peter B. de Selding, “European Nations Commit To New Ariane 5 Investment,” Space News, 28 May 2003.
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of San Diego, California, announced that it had won a US$48 million, four-year contract to support the development of NASA's next-generation space vehicle under NASA's Space Launch Initiative (SLI) program. Under the contract, SAIC would provide vehicle and systems engineering as well as other services, such as scheduling, configuration management, risk management, and financial planning. (Jacob Jackson, “SAIC Wins $48 Million NASA Space Work,” Washington Technology, 28 May 2003.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
