Comments on: Biden nominates former senator Bill Nelson for NASA administrator

By: BillB

BillB — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 02:20:19 +0000

I will not be surprised if Mr. Nelson along with the FAA and FCC does as much damage as they can to SpaceX in Boca Chica. I think Elon Musk wanted his own area to avoid all of the hassle of working at The Cape under Old Space rules. I do believe that SpaceX will eventually start Starship operations at The Cape but not until there is a viable launch system. They need The Cape to launch government payloads and support multiple daily launches because of the “safety” zone provided.

By: Robert Zimmerman

Robert Zimmerman — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 07:38:41 +0000

In reply to Dick Eagleson. Dick Eagleson: Ah, but the biggest and most innovative growth in New Space right now is not in Florida, but in Texas. Nelson might end up playing favorites in this game, especially since the Florida companies (Boeing, Blue Origin) have spent a lot of money paying off politicians. Texas (led by SpaceX) has not so much.

By: Dick Eagleson

Dick Eagleson — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 07:14:02 +0000

I suspect the bottom line for Nelson will continue to be what it seemingly always was – the benefit of his native Space Coast. That’s why he reversed himself on commercial cargo and crew once the Space Coast payrolls associated with those activities got big enough. Nelson has long been an OldSpace guy but that was because OldSpace employed most of his Space Coast constituents. Now NewSpace employs a lot of them and will employ still more in coming years. I don’t think any NewSpace outfit with a payroll on the Space Coast has much to fear from a Bill Nelson NASA Administratorship.

By: Phill O

Phill O — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 18:44:16 +0000

“the weak-minded elected official does not run things. Instead, it is the unelected Washington bureaucracy in charge.”

This sounds very familiar. Government works tend to be left wingnuts. This is why even conservative state (provinces) have lockdowns.

By: Jeff Wright

Jeff Wright — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 18:38:27 +0000

He’s not a firebrand. Lori might be what SLS haters want-but she would just be about climate. Nelson will just putter about-no surprises.

By: Tom Billings

Tom Billings — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 18:26:23 +0000

*If* Pam Melroy does get the Deputy Administrator position, then that *might* ameliorate some of the worst. Her rep, among those who have worked for her is of a sharp, determined, and can do technical administrator. Of course, whether she gets to make use of those skills for some positive impact is something we must wait upon.