NASA Administrator and Brevard Native Bill Nelson Visits Kennedy Space Center for Artemis I Preparation

By  //  August 9, 2021

Nelson grew up in Brevard County and attended Melbourne High School

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has a homecoming recently recently as he visited Kennedy Space Center and toured the Vehicle Assembly Building to check out NASA’s Space Launch System rocket as preparations for the Artemis I launch, which is set for November 22. (NASA image)

BREVARD COUNTY • KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA – NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has a homecoming recently recently as he visited Kennedy Space Center and toured the Vehicle Assembly Building to check out NASA’s Space Launch System rocket as preparations for the Artemis I launch, which is set for November 22.

Nelson, who grew up in Brevard County and attended Melbourne High School, was sworn in as the 14th NASA administrator on May 3, and tasked with carrying out the Biden-Harris administration’s vision for the agency.

Nelson chaired the Space Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives for six years and later served as the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, where he was recognized as the leading space program advocate in Congress.

During his time in Congress, Nelson was a strong advocate for NASA’s Earth science programs and authored numerous pieces of legislation to combat and mitigate the effects of climate change. Nelson was also a vocal proponent for STEM career training and education programs to create and fill the jobs of the future.

In 2010, Nelson and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas) passed the landmark NASA legislation that mapped out a new future for NASA and set the agency on its present dual course of both government and commercial missions.

In 2017, Nelson and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) authored the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017, which expanded NASA’s commercial activities in space. After leaving the Senate, Nelson continued to be engaged in NASA activities, serving on the NASA Advisory Council under former Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

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From president of 4-H to international president of the Key Club in high school, Nelson has always known the importance of investing in your neighbors and community to create a better future.  Nelson continued to serve his community and country while in college at the University of Florida, Yale, and University of Virginia Law School through various service organizations, school leadership positions. He served on active duty as a Captain in the U.S. Army.

Nelson has served in public office over four decades, first in the state legislature and U.S. Congress, then as State Treasurer. He was elected three times to the United States Senate, representing Florida for 18 years. His committees included the breadth of government policy from defense, intelligence and foreign policy to finance, commerce, and health care.

In 1986 he flew on the 24th flight of the Space Shuttle. The mission on Columbia orbited the earth 98 times over six days. Nelson conducted 12 medical experiments including the first American stress test in space and a cancer research experiment sponsored by university researchers.

In 1971, Bill met Grace Cavert of Jacksonville, Florida, while speaking at a statewide young leader convention. Grace has been an active partner in Bill’s public service career. From his first race for a seat in the Florida Legislature, Grace has been by his side knocking on doors and talking to folks about issues that mattered to them and their families. They have two grown children, Bill Jr. and Nan Ellen.

n 1986, Bill Nelson became the second sitting member of Congress (and the first member of the House) to travel into space. He went through NASA training with Senator Jake Garn of Utah. Nelson was a Payload Specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia’s STS-61-C mission from January 12 to 18, 1986. This mission was the last successful space shuttle flight prior to the Challenger accident, which occurred ten days after the end of this mission. In 1988, Nelson published a book about his space flight experience entitled Mission: An American Congressman’s Voyage to Space. (NASA image)
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