spacetoday.net: Report criticizes shuttle workforce planning

Posted: Sun, Mar 27, 2005, 9:35 AM ET (1435 GMT)
A report released Thursday concludes that NASA has not done nearly enough to maintain its shuttle workforce as the program winds down this decade. The report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the agency's emphasis on returning the shuttle fleet to flight this year has drawn attention away from efforts to maintain the workforce in place as the shuttle program ends and the Crew Exploration Vehicle effort begins. the report raised the concern that NASA may find it difficult to keep key shuttle workers in the final years of the program as they instead seek opportunities in other programs. Uncertainty regarding the Vision for Space Exploration has also made it difficult for managers to plan their workforce requirements.