NASA Administrator Bolden Meets with Press

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden met with the working space press this morning at the Kennedy Space Center where he promised a heavy-lift booster and the engagement of global commercial space launch market. General Bolden discussed the need to segment the Kennedy Vehicle Assembly Building to process multiple commercial space launch vehicles as a part of the post-shuttle retrofit.

Bolden took the blame for the political heat taken from Congress and the lack of preparing the NASA workforce for the presidential policy change to commercial space launch systems and the Ares-I and Ares-V Constellation program cancellation. Bolden said that he would discuss with Washington policymakers the need to build capability and advancing technology.

International involvement will be a new moniker for America's space program as is now being sought by President Obama, Bolden said. In a true international partnership when another country goes to the Moon, all partners win within the partnership, the space agency leader said. International partners will be placed on a "critical path" of efforts.

While no time tables for the road ahead, Bolden indicated that he would seek to achieve a heavy-lift launch capability between 2020 and 2030 after deciding what the destinations are going to be. Bolden said "Mars." The administrator said that NASA needs a 'game changing' propulsion system so humans can make the flight to Mars.

Bolden said he desired to speed the development and capability of companies like Orbital Sciences Corporation, SpaceX, and other companies. The administrator noted that he desires to see future human space flight originate from Florida. After shuttle the administrator noted that the Russian Soyuz will be his only immediate way to get Americans into space barring some breakthrough agreement with the Chinese.

"The operational concept for vehicles that NASA does not build and control must be worked out." especially as to how commercial space vehicles will be engaged by NASA," Bolden said. The insightful interview for viewing is highly recommended.

CBS News, The Houston Chronicle, CNN, EE Times, SpaceNews, Universe Today, Associated Content, and The Orlando Sentinel provide additional coverage of the press engagement with the NASA Administrator.