November 5, 2008—President Elect Barack Obama mentioned the historic Apollo 11 moon landing during his victory speech last night in Chicago. He’s voiced support for NASA, but many observers think the jury is still out on how the new President will eventually direct the U.S. Space Agency.

Think Bush. That’s how many space insiders regard President Elect Obama’s policy direction with NASA. On the campaign trail, the Democratic hopeful indicated he would keep to the Bush plan to retire the Space Shuttle in 2010 or 2011, perhaps by extending the program by one year. Members of Congress, most notably U.S. Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, want the extra flight to carry up the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station. After that, could come dependence on the Russian Soyuz to get astronauts to and from the outpost until the next generation Orion capsule is ready. The Obama campaign says this is not an endorsement of the Bush plan for the Shuttle, just the best use of a flawed policy.

On the book front...

Many thanks to WLRN’s Patrick Harris and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce for a very enjoyable visit to South Florida. WLRN has been very active in using signed copies of “Final Countdown” as a pledge drive membership gift. Harris and the Chamber invited me down to give a talk and a book signing. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and the drive in and out of town included the Venetian style architecture and banyan trees Coral Gables is famous for.

More to come…