Mars Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Space Exploration Initiative

NASA SP 2007-4410. NASA History Series. Recounts the story of the rise of Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) and its eventual demise. Tells of organizational, cultural, and personal confrontation. Organizational skirmishes involved the Space Council versus NASA, the White House versus congressional appropriators, and the Johnson Space Center versus the rest of the space agency--all seeking control of the national space policy process.

Thor Hogan is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Illinois Institute of Technology. His research involves comparing the agenda setting processes for past big technology programs with current efforts to gain support for an expanded renewable energy R&D program, as well as developing a typology for understanding science and technology policy utilizing a case study approach. He has also authored reports examining national space transportation policy and assessing NASA’s International Space Station program obligations.