The reported nomination of the former Florida senator. Bill Nelson
Clarence (Bill) William Nelson OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Obama NOAA Leader Joins Biden White House in Climate Role | Study: Climate change could reduce more than 60 countries’ credit ratings NASA climate official says the agency has’ placed new emphasis on practical scientific applications’ (D) being the next NASA administrator proves it’s a spinning world if he does something.
Back in November 2017, when Nelson was the chairman of the Senate Committee, he believed in the then Rep. Jim Bridenstine
James (Jim) Frederick BridenstineBiden to appoint Bill Nelson as head of NASA: reports The Biden government endorses Artemis of NASA, the Space Force Will Biden continue with NASA’s Artemis program to return to the moon? MORE (R-Okla.) And declares that a politician had no call to become the head of America’s space agency. An aerospace profession, which means that an engineer, a driver or an astronaut, is better suited to the job.
Probably because Bridenstine, despite Nelson’s best efforts, got confirmation anyway and then became the most celebrated NASA administrator since James Webb, the former Florida senator changed the rating. After all, a politician can do a pretty good job in the direction of America’s space program. In fact, Bridenstine endorsed Nelson’s nomination and set aside obvious personal considerations for what he considers to be NASA’s good. The matter should come up during Nelson’s confirmation hearings just to see how he will respond.
Bridenstine used his political skills well to manage NASA and promote the Artemis return to the lunar program. He left bias and sold the program to members of Congress, foreign leaders, businessmen and the general public. As a result, when Bridenstine resigned from NASA, the incoming government endorsed the Artemis program. He proved that a politician can run NASA and run it well. People of all political persuasions mourned when Bridenstine left for the private sector.
However, the assumption that Nelson is ready for the job just because he is also a politician is questioned if one examines his record. If Bridenstine can be considered a Jedi master of space politics, Nelson looks more like a Sith lord.
In addition to Bridenstine having a confirmation hearing to a strong chamber, Nelson played politics in several other cases for dubious reasons.
When Nelson was still a member of the House, he used his position to get a slot for a spacecraft mission. He has no qualifications other than the fact that he controls a lot of NASA funding. The astronauts were so annoyed by his presence on the shuttle that they gave him the nickname ‘ballast’.
Nelson is also one of the parents of the super-heavy, super-expensive and far-behind-the-day space-launch system (SLS), which some wags have called the ‘Senate launch system’. Former NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver described how the SLS funding was the price Nelson and others demanded for approving the Commercial Crew program in what she called ‘Faustian bargain’. Congress underfunded the program to send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Despite that, the Crew Dragon is flying now and the SLS has yet to get off the ground. Many view the SLS as an albatross holding back Artemis, suggesting that NASA should use commercial launchers to bring astronauts to the moon and Mars.
On the other hand, the SLS recently passed its fire test as the final step of the Green Run. The engines burned successfully over eight minutes, the time it had to download during a launch.
Nelson will almost certainly be confirmed. Many of the members of the Senate Committee served with him and most are his friends. Sen. Marco Rubio
Marco Antonio Rubio A new era for America’s children? Biden nominates former Senator Bill Nelson to lead NASA’s frontier push (R-Fla.), Who also opposed Bridenstine, endorsed his old co-senator. After all, the trials should not be a rubber stamp. Nelson needs to be thoroughly questioned about his current position on space policy. For example:
What are Nelson’s feelings about commercial spaceflight? Does he support the acquisition of the Human Landing System that will take 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 he support a human presence on the moon to conduct scientific research and commercial development, and is he preparing for expeditions to Mars? Does Nelson support the development of lunar resources to sustain astronauts on the moon and to help the Mars program?
What are Nelson’s thoughts on space cooperation with China? One point that could make the former senator rise is his investment in a Chinese telecommunications service that has blacklisted the Pentagon.
Nelson has the potential to advance his career by expanding America and its allies into space. If (when) Nelson is confirmed, it is necessary that he give his former antagonist Bridenstine a call for advice in this regard. In this way, Nelson can turn away from the dark side and do a little good for his country and his civilization.
Mark Whittington, who regularly writes about space and politics, has published a political study on space exploration entitled Why is it so difficult to go back to the moon? as well as “The Moon, Mars and Beyond.” He blogs at Curmudgeons Corner. He is published in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Hill, USA Today, the LA Times and the Washington Post, among others.