Government shut down... and NASA

[bls0620]

Hey all,

I was just wondering.... if our government does shut down, does that mean no NASA broadcast for the championships?

[NickE]

If the government is shut down during St. Louis, I would expect we will not have the NASA webcast, NASA Machine Shops or Mark Leon the NASA Emcee.

[bls0620]

Originally Posted by NickE

If the government is shut down during St. Louis, I would expect we will not have the NASA webcast, NASA Machine Shops or Mark Leon the NASA Emcee.

I guess you're right. According to this letter, FIRST events would be considered as non-essential operation. Therefore, NO fun for us

[pwnageNick]

So, if for some reason a government shutdown was to happen, say around December at the end of this year, does that mean teams sponsored by NASA would be screwed?

[bls0620]

Originally Posted by pwnageNick

So, if for some reason a government shutdown was to happen, say around December at the end of this year, does that mean teams sponsored by NASA would be screwed?

• New contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, task orders, change orders,
and other actions would not be issued during a funding hiatus, except those
critical to meeting the requirements for excepted activities under this
policy - and then only to the extent and amount necessary to meet those
requirements.

So answer to your question would be no. (from my understanding)

[pwnageNick]

How doe you figure no from that?

except those critical to meeting the requirements for excepted activities under this policy - and then only to the extent and amount necessary to meet those
requirements.

is FIRST an "excepted activity"?

[bls0620]

Originally Posted by pwnageNick

How doe you figure no from that?

is FIRST an "excepted activity"?

For later half of this year (past October), it would be considered a new financial year, 2011-2012.

For now though, the letter explicitly states that their policy covers only the 'critical' ongoing missions such as support missions for ISS, satellites, and the expected launch of space shuttle.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by pwnageNick

How doe you figure no from that?

is FIRST an "excepted activity"?

No, it is not. We have been told we will not have access to our center in the event of a furlough and are removing everything from our lab tonight in the anticipation of not being able to get back in before St Louis. Hopefully that does not become a reality.

[bls0620]

Originally Posted by Cory

No, it is not. We have been told we will not have access to our center in the event of a furlough and are removing everything everything from our lab tonight in the anticipation of not being able to get back in before St Louis. Hopefully that does not become a reality.

I hope that doesn't happen for you! This shouldn't affect your team's performance, right ?

[mrs. p]

Pink team is clearing out too

[pwnageNick]

...it's not part of the government???

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by NickE

If the government is shut down during St. Louis, I would expect we will not have the NASA webcast, NASA Machine Shops or Mark Leon the NASA Emcee.

I'd agree with the first two, but I'm pretty certain Mark could still Emcee. If there's a furlough, he won't be working for NASA unless he has a critical role to fill. And if he's not working for NASA, he's a civilian like the rest of us and can do whatever he likes. It's not like they're going to lock him in his house for the duration of the furlough. The only obstacle would be that NASA wouldn't pay his travel expenses, assuming they do so in the first place.

[rsisk]

According to Mark at the Utah regional, he would not be able to EmCee if NASA is shut down over the weekend.

[Ankit S.]

Originally Posted by rsisk

According to Mark at the Utah regional, he would not be able to EmCee if NASA is shut down over the weekend.

Aw... that sucks... Mark is a GREAT EmCee.

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by rsisk

According to Mark at the Utah regional, he would not be able to EmCee if NASA is shut down over the weekend.

Well I stand corrected and curious as to why that'd be. But I trust the man knows his own business better than I would.