Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!agate!eos!ames!skipper!shafer From: shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov (Mary Shafer) Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle Subject: Re: Getting into the press area for shuttle launches? Message-ID: Date: 5 Sep 90 18:13:10 GMT References: <3876@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US> <1990Sep4.001018.4034@zoo.toronto.edu> Sender: shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov Organization: NASA Dryden, Edwards, Cal. Lines: 26 In-reply-to: henry@zoo.toronto.edu's message of 4 Sep 90 00:10:18 GMT In article <1990Sep4.001018.4034@zoo.toronto.edu> henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes: >Recent reports say that there will be no, repeat no, passes for this >launch [STS-41], because there is a strong possibility that NASA will be badly >short of funds around then, and supervision of visitors has been classed >as a luxury. So short of funds that we've all gotten the dreaded furlough letter. NASA is legally required to give us 30 days notice of a furlough and the letter says it may be as long as 22 days. At this time, management is predicting that we'll only be in a non-pay status for one day in October. Non-pay status means that we don't get paid and we can't come to work, even as volunteers. This is a result of the Gramm-Rudman sequestration requirement, requiring NASA to cut its R&PM spending by 30%. By having no travel or training in October, they'll only have to furlough one day. (R&PM covers salaries, travel, training, and certain support contracts.) Contractors will also be in a non-pay status, but they don't have to receive the gov't letter. -- Mary Shafer shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov ames!skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov!shafer NASA Ames Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, CA Of course I don't speak for NASA "A MiG at your six is better than no MiG at all"--Unknown US fighter pilot