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NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY OPTIMISTIC AFTER SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR NEW NASA CHIEF

Bill Nelson. Credit: Wikipedia

Bill Nelson Supports Progressive Goals for NASA

Between his wealth of political experience and his background flying on the space shuttle, Nelson understands the importance of leading the way in space for our country.”
— Anita Gale, CEO of the National Space Society
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA, April 22, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ -- National Space Society leaders were optimistic about NASA’s future following Wednesday’s Senate confirmation hearing regarding former Senator Bill Nelson as the new NASA Administrator.

“Today’s hearing was a fine example of the American political system finding the right person for the job,” said Anita Gale, CEO of the NSS. “Between his wealth of political experience and his background flying on the space shuttle, Nelson understands the importance of leading the way in space for our country.” Gale was previously an engineer on the space shuttle program.

NSS Chief Operating Officer Dale Skran underscored the importance of political leadership at the space agency. “Having a person with political experience at the helm of NASA is critical in times like these. Bill Nelson, like Jim Bridenstine before him, brings a wealth of political experience, perhaps the most since Jim Webb of the Space Race years, to the position. This is critical for advancing NASA’s goals in the near term, and the goals of the NSS in the long term—the human settlement of space.”

Notable among Nelson’s comments during Wednesday’s hearings were his backing of the selection of SpaceX as the sole contractor for NASA’s Human Landing System to take American astronauts back to the Moon while supporting multiple competitive contracts in the future. He also voiced his support for NASA to adhere to the 2024 deadline for the first lunar landings but admitted that it will be a challenge. “Space is hard,” Nelson said.

“In the end, everyone wins when there is competition and redundancy in the system,” said Jeremy Wainscott, NSS Executive Vice President. “We hope Congress will send NASA sufficient funding to support a second contractor to provide assured and safe access to the surface of the Moon by our astronauts.”

Nelson also underscored his support for continuing NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule to provide “continuity” in America’s space efforts, while welcoming increased participation from the commercial sector in space exploration. Finally, Nelson voiced his gratitude that the Biden administration will allow a renewed National Space Council to continue providing guidance to NASA.

Michelle Hanlon, President of the NSS, commented, “Nelson is a true friend to space exploration and development. With vociferous support from both sides of the aisle, today’s hearings once again demonstrated that space is nonpartisan. The NSS is gratified to know that he will continue to support robust partnerships between NASA and commercial operators like SpaceX and Blue Origin, who have skin in the game and are saving taxpayers many millions of dollars. We look forward to learning more about Nelson’s support of the broader goals of human exploration and supporting the human expansion into the solar system—not just to visit, but to stay.”

The National Space Society was founded in 1987 via a merger of the National Space Institute, founded to promote citizen support for the American space program, and the L5 Society, based on the work of space settlement pioneer Gerard K. O’Neill. The NSS is the preeminent citizen's voice on space exploration, development, and settlement. For more information go to space.nss.org.

Jeremy Wainscott
NSS Executive Vice President
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