The firing of Charlie Carmada and the no-go, but go ahead decision last week indicate the cultural problems with NASA continue. Carmada’s disagreement stems from the way NASA selects members of its management teams, “I cannot accept the methods I believe are being used by this Center to select future leaders. I have always based my decisions on facts, data and good solid analysis. I cannot be a party to rumor, inuendo, gossip and/or manipulation to make or break someone’s career and/or good name.” When he refused to step down, he was reassigned to the NASA Engineering and Safety Center. Sounds like a way of saying, we value what you have to contribute, would you mind contributing from Virginia?
Something one of the STS-121 crewmembers said when asked if he sensed a noticeable change in the culture around NASA. He said that he noticed more openness with more people speaking up, some more than they should. I think there was a knowing wink there, but still, that last part is left open to the interpretation, because one might say that at the time, those engineers who wanted imagery of damage to Columbia before it broke up on reentry spoke up more than they should have.
Citation: Collect Space and Space.com.
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