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Space Studies Board Annual Report 2006 (2007) / Chapter Skim
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5.4 Issues Affecting the Future of the U.S. Space Science and Engineering Workforce: Interim Report
Pages 51-54

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From page 51...
... Bush's January 2004 announcement of a new civil space policy that would refocus NASA's broad range of research and engineering projects toward the human and robotic exploration of the Moon, Mars, and eventually other solar system bodies. This new vision for space exploration specified a phase-out of the space shuttle by 2010 and development of a new human launch vehicle to support human space missions as early as 2014, and a human return to the Moon between 2015 and 2020.
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From page 52...
... DOD has created several programs to develop systems engineers, but there was no indication that NASA is working with DOD on these programs.2 The committee's initial examination of relevant demographic data about aerospace workforce supply and demand led to the following conclusions. First, although there are currently some problems in meeting demand, particularly for specific skills, the situation for employers such as the DOD and the large aerospace companies is not now a major problem.
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From page 53...
... • Availability -- Will key vacancies be open for competition, thereby creating an environment that encourages and facilitates the movement of NASA employees into industry for developmental work experience assignments, the movement of industry employees into NASA where they can mentor NASA employees, and the subsequent return of these employees to their original institutions? • RecruitmentCan NASA and industry properly identify required skills in advance, whether the workforce has reliable and effective feeder programs, and how much attention is paid to expanding the diversity of the workforce and recruiting from underrepresented populations?
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From page 54...
... The committee will evaluate the skills that the study identifies as necessary to implement the vision for space exploration, assess the current workforce against projected needs, and identify gaps and obstacles to responding to NASA's projected needs. In its final report, the committee expects to develop recommendations for specific actions by the federal government, industry, and academia, including organizational changes, recruiting and hiring practices, student programs, and workforce training and improvement to enable NASA to accomplish the goals of the vision.
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  • january workshop

  • robotic exploration
  • launch vehicle
  • space mission
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  • aerospace workforce

  • civilian space
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  • space policy
  • aerospace space
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  • properly identify
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  • workforce supply
  • compelling evidence


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