President-elect Trump – Transition

NASA Transition Leadership:  Lightfoot to be acting NASA administrator, CFO Radzanowski to stay on  President Obama and his administration, including NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Deputy Administrator Dava Newman, leave office on January 20. President-elect Trump has not designated successors, who will face U.S. Senate confirmation. During the interim, long-time NASA civil servant Robert Lightfoot, now the agency’s No. 3 official, will serve as acting administrator. David Radzanowski will continue on as chief financial officer, at least temporarily. (See also:  NASA “beachhead team” taking shape, Lightfoot optimistic about NASA’s future )

NASA Future Leadership:  GOP Rep. Jim Bridenstine seen as top choice for NASA Chief  Oklahoma congressman Jim Bridenstine, an advocate for traditional human space exploration and space commerce, may lead the field to become NASA’s administrator, according to the report. Bridenstine, a former naval aviator, has championed U.S. space leadership as a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Lunar Exploration:  Trump might be thinking about a moon base  Prominent historian David Brinkley suggested President-elect Trump is intrigued by a human lunar base, following a meeting between the two last week. A U.S. return to the lunar surface, however, could prove expensive enough to slow the momentum to reach Mars with human explorers in two decades, note experts who favor the red planet as the next planetary surface destination. (See also:Will a President Trump change NASA’s Mars goals? Sen. Bill Nelson says no)

Citizens for Space Exploration – a pro-space, taxpayer, grassroots advocacy group (http://www.bayareahouston.com/content/c_s_e/c_s_e) – has traveled to Washington, D.C. the past 24 years to meet face-to-face with Members/staff of Congress to discuss the value of America’s investment in space exploration. In order to sustain that dialogue on a regular basis, Citizens distributes “Space Exploration Update” to Congressional offices on a weekly basis. The intent is to provide an easy, quick way to stay abreast of key human space exploration program and policy developments.