Still No NASA Chief

Two months into the Obama administration, the next administrator of NASA has yet to be nominated. Recently, two men seen as candidates for the post were appointed to other positions.

In January, as reported in this blog, there was a flurry of speculation that Mr. Obama might name his NASA pick before his inauguration, signaling his interest in space policy.

Of course, that didn't happen, and it must be noted that the President has had his hands full since taking office. It's also fair to note he found time to fill out his NCAA Men's basketball tournament brackets on ESPN. There's often a tension for a politician, however, between doing political things and spending the time to do the job properly. Presidents, especially, tend to see politics and policy as of a piece.

Still, many decisions about Ameica's future in space are pending. NASA needs someone at the helm soon.