Goldin, Daniel Saul (1940–)
NASA's longest-serving Administrator. Appointed
in 1992, Goldin pursued a policy of "faster, better, cheaper," reformed
the Agency's management, and implemented a more balanced aeronautics and
space program by reducing human spaceflight-funding from 48% of the total
budget to 38% and increasing funding for science and aerospace technology
from 31% to 43%. Among Goldin's other innovations were new programs of robotic
exploration focused on Mars and the Moon, and
the Origins program to understand how the Universe has evolved and how common
life is on other worlds. He also laid the foundation to complete the first
scientific census of the solar system and to send the first probe into interstellar
space. Goldin played a pivotal role in redesigning the International
Space Station. Starting with the Space
Shuttle program, he has established a goal to transfer day-to-day space
operations to the private sector. This enables the Agency to dedicate its
resources to long-term, high-risk research and development and help establish
a permanent human presence beyond low Earth orbit. Before coming to NASA,
Goldin was vice president and general manager of the TRW Space and Technology
Group in Redondo Beach, California. During a 25-year career at TRW, Goldin
led projects for America's defense and conceptualized and managed production
of advanced communication spacecraft, space technologies and scientific
instruments. He began his career in 1962 at Lewis Research
Center, where he worked on electric propulsion systems.
Related category
• AEROSPACE
ADMINISTRATORS
Also on this site:
Encyclopedia
of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia
of History
BACK TO TOP
|
