The reported nomination of the former Florida senator. Bill Nelson
Clarence (Bill) William Nelson ENERGY FOR THE NIGHT: NOAA leader Obama joins Biden White House in climate role | Study: Climate change could reduce credit ratings in more than 60 countries A NASA climate official says the agency has “renewed its emphasis” on practical science applications. NASA’s climate official says the agency has “renewed its emphasis” on practical science applications. (D) Being the next NASA administrator proves, if he does anything, that it is a changing world.
In November 2017, when Nelson was chairman of the Senate Trade Committee, during the confirmation hearings, he addressed the then representative. Jim Bridenstine
James (Jim) Frederick BridenstineBiden to appoint Bill Nelson to head NASA: reports Biden administration supports NASA’s Artemis, Space Force Will Biden continue NASA’s Artemis program to return to the moon? MONTH (R-Okla.) And he stated that a politician had no call to become the head of the American space agency. An aerospace profession, i.e. an engineer, manager or astronaut, would be more suitable for the job.
Probably because, despite Nelson’s efforts, Bridenstine obtained confirmation anyway and became NASA’s most famous administrator since James Webb, the former Florida senator has modified that assessment. A politician, after all, can do a good job directing the American space program. In fact, on this basis, Bridenstine has approved Nelson’s nomination, leaving aside obvious personal considerations for what he sees as the good of NASA. Still, the matter should come out during Nelson’s confirmation hearings just to see how he will respond.
Bridenstine took advantage of his political skills to lead NASA and advance in the Artemis return to the moon program. He left partisanship behind and sold the program to members of Congress, foreign leaders, business tycoons, and the general public. As a result, when Bridenstine resigned from NASA, the incoming administration supported the Artemis program. He showed that a politician could run NASA and run it well. People of all political convictions lamented when Bridenstine left for the private sector.
However, the assumption that Nelson is right for the job just because he is a politician is also called into question when examining his background. If Bridenstine could be considered a Jedi Master of space politics, Nelson looks more like a Sith lord.
In addition to subjecting Bridenstine to a Star House for a confirmation hearing, Nelson has practiced in several political cases for dubious reasons.
When Nelson was still a member of the House, he used his position to gain space on a space shuttle mission. He had no qualifications other than controlling many NASA funds. The astronauts were so upset by his presence on the shuttle that they gave him the nickname “ballast.”
Nelson is also one of the fathers of the super-heavy, super-expensive, and very backward space launch system (SLS), which some movements have dubbed the “Senate Launch System.” Former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver described how funding the SLS was the price Nelson and others demanded to approve the Commercial Crew program in what she called a “Faustian negotiation.” Congress continued to underfund the program to send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Despite this fact, now the crew dragon is flying and the SLS has not yet come off the ground. Many view the SLS as an albatross that retains Artemis, suggesting that NASA should use commercial launchers to bring astronauts to the moon and Mars.
On the other hand, the SLS recently passed the hot fire test as the last step of the Green Run. Their engines burned for eight minutes, the time they have to fire during a launch, successfully.
Nelson is almost certain to be confirmed. Many of the members of the Senate Trade Committee have served with him and most are his friends. Sen. marc Rubio
Marco Antonio Rubio A new era for the children of America? Biden appoints former Florida Senator Bill Nelson to lead NASA Border Rise Mixes Senate Debate on Immigration MORE (R-Fla.), Who also opposed Bridenstine, has approved his former fellow senator. Still, audiences shouldn’t be a rubber stamp. Nelson should be thoroughly questioned about his current positions on space policy. For example:
How do you feel about Nelson’s commercial space flight? Does it support obtaining the human landing system that will bring Americans to the lunar surface commercially, in the same way as the commercial crew program?
Does Nelson support the establishment of a permanent, international lunar base? Does it support the human presence on the Moon to conduct scientific explorations and commercial development, as well as prepare for expeditions to Mars? Does Nelson support the development of lunar resources to keep astronauts on the moon and help the Mars program?
What thoughts does Nelson have about space cooperation with China? One element that could provoke the former senator is the investment in a Chinese telecommunications that the Pentagon has blacklisted.
Nelson has the potential to close his career by driving the expansion of the United States and its allies into space. If (when) Nelson is confirmed, he should seek advice from his former antagonist Bridenstine in this regard. In this way, Nelson could step away from the dark side and do good for his country and civilization.
Mark Whittington, who often writes about space and politics, has published a political study on space exploration entitled Why Is It So Hard to Go Back to the Moon? as well as “The Moon, Mars and Beyond.” He blogs at Curmudgeons Corner. It is published in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Hill, USA Today, LA Times and Washington Post, among others.