Andrew
06-23-2008, 01:05 PM
wftv.com | BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- The potential for monumental job losses at the Kennedy Space Center brought a Senate hearing to Brevard County Monday while as many as 1,000 people affected by the planned cuts made their stand outside during a protest.
At one time, it was believed as many 6,400 jobs could be lost in the next few years in Central Florida after President Bush announced the space shuttle fleet would be retired in 2010. Monday, new numbers were announced by the head of NASA.
NASA administrator Mike Griffin was forced to come to Port Canaveral and testify before the Senate commerce subcommittee Monday. Griffin testified on the record that he believes they now will see a reduction in jobs of about 3,500, not the 6,400 jobs that Griffin testified to at the last hearing on the shuttle's retirement.
Senator Bill Nelson, the chairman of the Senate commerce subcommittee on space, called the hearing to try to bring attention to the inevitable job cuts and what NASA's plans are for the space center and its workforce.
NASA and its contractors employ more than 14,000 people. When it retires the shuttle fleet in 2010, NASA's administrators say all the shuttle jobs will go away. The question is how many of the shuttle jobs will be replaced with other jobs at the space center.
At one point earlier this year, Griffin said they could lose more than 6,000, but he says more work has been brought to the space center.
"We're now hearing a cut of considerably less, 3,000 to 4,000. That's news. I can't say it's good news, but it's certainly news that's a step in the right direction," Senator Nelson said.
Griffin said he's still opposed to extending the life of the shuttle program or even adding an 11th mission, as was just approved by the House of Representatives last week. He said he would need $300 to $400 million to add another mission.
There was a glaring omission from the Senate hearings on the job losses Monday and that's what happens if the shuttle's replacement doesn't stay on schedule. There are already reports of problems with the design and there was no mention of how any delays might affect the workforce at the space center.
At one time, it was believed as many 6,400 jobs could be lost in the next few years in Central Florida after President Bush announced the space shuttle fleet would be retired in 2010. Monday, new numbers were announced by the head of NASA.
NASA administrator Mike Griffin was forced to come to Port Canaveral and testify before the Senate commerce subcommittee Monday. Griffin testified on the record that he believes they now will see a reduction in jobs of about 3,500, not the 6,400 jobs that Griffin testified to at the last hearing on the shuttle's retirement.
Senator Bill Nelson, the chairman of the Senate commerce subcommittee on space, called the hearing to try to bring attention to the inevitable job cuts and what NASA's plans are for the space center and its workforce.
NASA and its contractors employ more than 14,000 people. When it retires the shuttle fleet in 2010, NASA's administrators say all the shuttle jobs will go away. The question is how many of the shuttle jobs will be replaced with other jobs at the space center.
At one point earlier this year, Griffin said they could lose more than 6,000, but he says more work has been brought to the space center.
"We're now hearing a cut of considerably less, 3,000 to 4,000. That's news. I can't say it's good news, but it's certainly news that's a step in the right direction," Senator Nelson said.
Griffin said he's still opposed to extending the life of the shuttle program or even adding an 11th mission, as was just approved by the House of Representatives last week. He said he would need $300 to $400 million to add another mission.
There was a glaring omission from the Senate hearings on the job losses Monday and that's what happens if the shuttle's replacement doesn't stay on schedule. There are already reports of problems with the design and there was no mention of how any delays might affect the workforce at the space center.