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Former Florida Senator Bill Nelson will be reportedly nominated as the head of the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). President Joe Biden is likely to nominate Bill Nelson (D) for the key post. Multiple media outlets have corroborated the development and cited unnamed sources in the know.
Bill Nelson is 78-year-old who served as the Florida Senator thrice. In 2018, he lost to then Governor Rick Scott (R). Nelson became the second member of the Congress to go on Space Travel in 1986 as a “Payload Specialist” on the Space Shuttle Columbia.
Recognising his service to the field, NASA in 2019 has recognised Nelson as “the leading space program advocate in Congress” as he was instrumental in passing a bill that called for the development of commercial space flights in 2010.
Nelson is expected to replace the current head of NASA, Jim Bridenstine, appointed by former President Donald Trump. As Trump stepped down in January, Bridenstine is likely to be shown the door. It can be recalled that Bridenstine had faced opposition from Bill Nelson during his appointment as he had said, “The head of NASA ought to be a space professional, not a politician.”
Bridenstine had faced controversy due to his views on climate change. However, he was also known for developing NASA’s Artemis Program that aims to have the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024.
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