NASA likely to stay the course to the moon under Bill Nelson, if confirmed

[Judi Lynn]

By Mike Wall a day ago

If Nelson is confirmed, NASA's moon plan shouldn't change much.


Don't expect big changes at NASA if Bill Nelson does end up leading the space agency.

On Friday (March 19), President Joe Biden announced that he intends to nominate Nelson, a former three-term U.S. senator from Florida and longtime space policy player, as NASA administrator. The choice signals that shakeups are unlikely in big-ticket NASA projects, such as the Artemis program of crewed lunar exploration, said space policy expert John Logsdon.

"One of the buzz phrases during the [presidential] transition was 'continuity of purpose,' and I think that's what one is likely to see with Mr. Nelson — a continuation of the existing program, adjusted to both technical and financial realities," Logsdon, a professor emeritus of political science and international affairs at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C., told Space.com.

Artemis to the moon
Biden has already signaled his support for Artemis, which took shape under the administration of his predecessor, President Donald Trump. Artemis aims to establish a sustainable, long-term human presence on and around the moon, to help NASA prepare for an even bolder leap — crewed missions to Mars, which the agency aims to start launching in the 2030s.

More:
https://www.space.com/nasa-chief-bill-nelson-nomination-space-continuity