...for much of the next five decades, the U.S. government will be the dominant entity in determining the course of human space exploration.

Forgive my audacity in disagreeing with the Administrator, but I'd suggest that, right now, we're witnessing the beginning of the end of NASA. I doubt that it's got even two decades left as a meaningful institution in regard to human spaceflight. Americans just don't place any value on our country's ability in space. So we're going to end up gutting NASA's science programs only to watch our manned spaceflight effort whither away under budget cuts and public apathy.

It won't be long before China takes the ultimate high-ground.