Comments on: University Returns $3 Million in Savings to NASA

By: Chuck Lam

Chuck Lam — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:13:57 +0000

The university needs to dump the guy who decided to return the savings. Three mil of pork could have justly purchased some mighty fine SORCE related school equipment. This action would have fit right in the spirit of traditional politics. Gawd! What was this school elder thinking?

By: NASA_thermal_guy

NASA_thermal_guy — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:19:36 +0000

If NASA can't find a way to spend the money on another program during the fiscal year they might not get that money back from the government the next year and it would be cut from their budget. It's great to come under cost… but when you are under contract they look for meeting the cost figures you projected. They actually take away performance points if you cost under run that much…

By: Quantum_Flux

Quantum_Flux — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:20:11 +0000

So that money goes to some other aspect of NASA's budget? I think they should design those lunar vehicles to be a little more spiffy.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:48:01 +0000

As a LASP employee (lowly undergrad spending the summer in Hawaii), that's pretty cool to hear!

By: tacitus

tacitus — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:57:51 +0000

Yeah, that is pretty rare. When I worked in a big computer firm and our department hadn't spent their whole budget, there was a huge panic and flurry of spending because of the fear of getting our budget cut the following year.

Of course, both sides kept getting it wrong. You should reward departments that come in under budget with more work, so it should be a good thing, but both sides were always too paranoid to reach the right result, so any savings would be squandered.

By: Al Hall

Al Hall — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:17:02 +0000

Good to hear.. It's nice to hear about people doing the right thing….. Hey! Wait a minute!!
"……SORCE mission, the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment, which studies how the sun's variation influences Earth's climate and atmosphere."
Didn't some 'smart' guys just recently say that the sun doesn't affect our atmosphere and climate?… Sorry.. I couldn't resist..
I'm not trying to start another hundred comment global warming fight, I'm just playing..
Anyway.. It appears that CU did the right thing and I respect them for it.. I am a believer that when you do the right thing, you are usually rewarded for it.. Eventually..