Tucked away in the middle of a routine press handout from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration last June was big news: the resignation of D. Brainerd Holmes, NASA's man in charge of the manned space-flight program, including the man-to-the-moon effort. A tough-minded engineer with ideas of his own about space programs, Holmes had decided to resign (effective Sept. 1) because of continued conflicts with his statutory boss, NASA Administrator James Webb.
Last week Webb announced that Holmes's job will be taken over by Dr. George E. Mueller, 45, vice president for research and development of Los Angeles' Space Technology...