NASA and the Politics of Climate Research

W. Henry Lambright is Professor of Public Administration, International Affairs, and Political Science at the Maxwell School, Syracuse University, USA.

• 1 Introduction.- The Sea-Level Threat.- Satellite Observation.- Bureaucratic Entrepreneurship.- The Narrative Ahead.- 2 The Coming of Seasat.- The Apollo Illusion.- Initiating.- Thinking About the Oceans.- Fletcher’s Vision.- Ozone Depletion.- Stepping Stones to Seasat.- Enlisting Carl Wunsch: A Scientific Gatekeeper.- Seasat’s Problems.- Seasat Fails.- 3 Adopting TOPEX/Poseidon.- W. Stanley Wilson.- Connecting with Scientists.- Going Abroad.- Formulating a Program.- Selling Science.- Getting a Recommitment.- Finding a Partner.- The Vienna Debacle.- An End-Run to a Beggs Decision.- Oceanographic Resistance.- Seeking Help.- Wunsch’s Legerdemain.- Getting a “New Start”.- 4 Breakthrough for Sea-Level Rise.- Developing Technology and Partnership.- Post-Challenger: EOS Rises.- A Sense of Momentum.- Bush’s Priorities.- EOS vs. “the Ocean from Space”.- EOS Under Fire.- Wilson Departs.- Close Calls.- The Launch.- A Triumph and Surprise.- Continuity a Must.- 5 Remaking a Mission.- Fisk and Tilford Go.- Kennel and Townsend.- Sea-Level Findings.- Reshaping Earth Science.- The Politics of Climate Change.- Consolidation.- Extending TOPEX/Poseidon.- GRACE.- Lindstrom.- Defending NASA.- From Townsend to Asrar.- 6 High Hopes.- Relinquishing EOS Follow-Ons.- NPOESS.- Enlisting EUMETSAT.- Moving Toward the Poles.- 7 “At Risk of Collapse”.- Initially: Good News.- Innovating Jason-2.- Synergy for Sea-Level Rise.- James Hansen and Asrar.- Earth Scientists Complain.- Partnering Problems.- Michael Griffin as Administrator.- Decadal Survey Interim Report.- TOPEX/Poseidon Ends.- Hansen Controversy Climaxes.- Adopting Jason-2.- The NPOESS Crisis.- Reactions.- Where Next?.- 8 Rebuilding Begins.- Instilling Confidence.- Using the Decadal Survey.- The NRC Decadal Survey.- Reactions.- Research Strategy.- Congress.- Prioritizing ICESAT-2.- Jason-2 Launches.- Decision-Making for Jason-3.- 9 Gaining Momentum.- Polar Melting.- NOAA’s Role.- Obama’s Policy Change.- Garver vs. Freilich.- A “Climate-Centric” Agenda.- Reality Check.- Looking for Partners.- IPCC.- Nelson Hearings.- Establishing a Sea-Level Change Team.- SWOT.- 10 Taking “The Lead”.- NOAA’s Dilemma.- Fighting.- The Zwally Dispute.- Freilich Bends and Accepts “The Lead”.- Trump as Catalyst.- 11 Mounting Defense.- Reassuring Scientists.- NASA Leadership.- The First Trump Budget.- Strengthening NASA’s Defense.- The Decadal Survey.- The Sea-Level Change Team.- Bridenstine Takes Command.- Launching.- Freilich Decides to Leave.- Jason-3.- The Rhythm of Innovation.- An Administrator’s Legacy.- 12 Advancing.- Unshackling NASA.- The Earth System Observatory.- The Era Ahead.- An Expanded Partnership.- 13 Conclusion.- Policy Innovation.- A Unifying Goal.- A Supportive Constituency.- Administrative Leadership.- The Initiator: Stanley Wilson,.-9–1992.- The Remaker: Charles Kennel,.-4–1996.- The Consolidator: William Townsend,.-6–1998.- The Embattled Maintainer: Ghassem Asrar,.-8–2006.- The Rebuilder and Institutionalizer: Michael Freilich, 2006–2019.- Toward the Future.