Former astronaut and current US Senator Bill Nelson has been nominated by US President Joe Biden as the next head of the US space agency NASA, the BBC reported, quoted by BNT.
Nelson, 78, is considered a moderate Democrat, and his election was welcomed even by Republicans.
However, in order to take office, his nomination must be confirmed in the Senate.
Nelson himself said it was an “honor” for him to be elected head of NASA and stressed that “it will help it continue on its path to a more exciting future.”
“The NASA team continues to achieve the seemingly impossible as we continue to conquer space,” he added.
The White House said he had been “known as a senator advising the nation’s space program” for many years.
“Almost every piece of legal regulation of the US space program has been consulted,” the statement said.
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio admitted: “I can’t think of anyone better to lead NASA.”
Bill Nelson was the driving force behind NASA’s SLS rocket project, which was created after the revision of Barack Obama’s US space program.
–
