NASA eyes smaller workforce

NASA anticipates a slightly smaller civil servant workforce, facility consolidations and less spending on consultants, according to the agency's proposed 2014 budget. The goal is a civil servant workforce of 17,700, a cut of about 275 and a target NASA plans to achieve with buyouts that will permit NASA to continue some hiring young engineers, scientists and other specialists. Of the agency's centers, Johnson Space Center in Houston, which manages International Space Station operations and leads development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, would be the top recipient of 2014 funding among the centers with $4.5 billion. Stennis Space Center, Miss., which hosts much of the agency's propulsion testing, would receive the least, $182 million. Personnel declines would be distributed evenly. SSC, the center with the fewest civil servants, would fall by five to 313. (Source: Aviation Week, 04/15/13)