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1/ The Biden administration recently nominated Senator Bill Nelson for NASA administrator.
He has worked in politics for more than 40 years.
But did you know he spent six days in space as a member of Congress?
Thread
He has worked in politics for more than 40 years.
But did you know he spent six days in space as a member of Congress?
Thread
2/ Nelson was born in Miami, Florida in 1942. He grew up in Melbourne, Florida before attending UF and eventually getting a BA from Yale University.
After graduating from Yale in 1965, he attended UVA School of Law while being an Army Reservist.
He received his JD in 1968.
After graduating from Yale in 1965, he attended UVA School of Law while being an Army Reservist.
He received his JD in 1968.
3/ He was called up to serve in Vietnam in 1968. He was honorably discharged in 1971 reaching the rank of captain.
After briefly practicing law, he began his foray into politics.
First, working as a legislative assistant to then Florida Governor, Reubin Askew.
After briefly practicing law, he began his foray into politics.
First, working as a legislative assistant to then Florida Governor, Reubin Askew.
4/ Nelson had a taste of politics and decided to run for office. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1972 and won re-election two more times.
He then was on to bigger things.
He ran for Congress in the 9th Congressional District of Florida in 1978 and won!
He then was on to bigger things.
He ran for Congress in the 9th Congressional District of Florida in 1978 and won!
5/ It was his 12-year stint in Congress where he became an Astronaut.
Believe it or not, he wasn't the first politician to fly in space. But he definitely wanted to be.
That designation goes to Senator Jake Garn of Utah.
Believe it or not, he wasn't the first politician to fly in space. But he definitely wanted to be.
That designation goes to Senator Jake Garn of Utah.
7/ In 1982, NASA set on a plan to begin sending a private citizen into space. It was decided that Garn would be first as chairman of the budget committee controlling NASA’s budget.
He was an accomplished pilot with 17,000 military flying hours.
He was an accomplished pilot with 17,000 military flying hours.
8/ Garn along with 6 other astronauts would fly Mission STS-51-D on April 12, 1985.
The nearly 7-day mission was a success and set the precedent of sending "private" citizens into space.
The nearly 7-day mission was a success and set the precedent of sending "private" citizens into space.
9/ NASA decided to send another politician into space. It was decided that it would be the chairman of the House Budget Committee, who happened to be Congressman Bill Nelson.
Nelson began training for his mission.
Nelson began training for his mission.
10/ Nelson's regiment was intense:
"I started a regimen of physical conditioning that included running at least four miles every day, plus workouts in the gym."
He was 44 and in the best shape of his life.
"I started a regimen of physical conditioning that included running at least four miles every day, plus workouts in the gym."
He was 44 and in the best shape of his life.
11/ His training didn't just stop there. He had to adjust to the conditions in space:
"In an Air Force F-16 jet, flying over the bombing test range in south Florida, I asked the pilot to pull the max Gs. For fifteen seconds in a left turn, we pulled nine times gravity."
"In an Air Force F-16 jet, flying over the bombing test range in south Florida, I asked the pilot to pull the max Gs. For fifteen seconds in a left turn, we pulled nine times gravity."
12/ Many critics including some astronauts were frustrated that NASA was sending politicians into space.
But NASA wanted to show politicians why taxpayers were spending billions on NASA.
It was a risk worth taking, despite the critics.
But NASA wanted to show politicians why taxpayers were spending billions on NASA.
It was a risk worth taking, despite the critics.
13/ On January 12th, 1986 the NASA mission STS-61-C was launched.
Seven astronauts launched from Kennedy Space Center with the primary mission to deploy the Satcom K1 communications satellite.
Seven astronauts launched from Kennedy Space Center with the primary mission to deploy the Satcom K1 communications satellite.
14/ The crew spent 6 days in space successfully deploying the satellite while completing a series of science experiments.
Nelson's title was "payload specialist". His job responsibilities were "simple" compared to the other astronauts.
Nelson's title was "payload specialist". His job responsibilities were "simple" compared to the other astronauts.
15/ "serve as a subject of experiments by NASA doctors who want to learn more about the causes of space sickness, a form of nausea that has affected many astronauts. He will also operate an experiment to grow 60 different types of protein crystals, a difficult feat on earth.""
16/ On January 18, 1986, the crew landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Nelson was hoping to receive a Florida orange upon landing but instead received California oranges and grapefruits.
Nelson was hoping to receive a Florida orange upon landing but instead received California oranges and grapefruits.
18/ The 7 man crew was as followed:
19/ The mission was a success on all fronts. Nelson became one of the most knowledgeable people in Congress on NASA.
So what happened next?
So what happened next?
20/ Nelson became the Treasurer of Florida in 1995 and then a Senator in 2001. He served 3-terms before being nominated as the administrator of NASA earlier this year.
He has bipartisan support and expected to be confirmed by Congress.
He has bipartisan support and expected to be confirmed by Congress.
21/ Unfortunately, mission STS-61-C, was the last successful mission before the disastrous Space Shuttle Challenger mission 10 days later.
Seven people died including Christa McAuliffe, the third private citizen and first-non politician to fly into space.
Seven people died including Christa McAuliffe, the third private citizen and first-non politician to fly into space.
22/ It took another 975 days before NASA launched its next mission, STS-26.
NASA hasn't sent another private citizen into space since.
NASA hasn't sent another private citizen into space since.
23/ Nelson's first priority as administrator will be ensuring the Artemis project, a lunar landing project stays on track.
I don't know what the future hold, but the most important thing is giving Nelson, the astronaut, a chance as NASA's newest administrator.
I don't know what the future hold, but the most important thing is giving Nelson, the astronaut, a chance as NASA's newest administrator.
24/ Did you enjoy this thread?
Follow me @amlewis4 and hit RT on this tweet
I tweet about the business and policy of space every day.
Follow me @amlewis4 and hit RT on this tweet
I tweet about the business and policy of space every day.
25/ If you want more on the space industry?
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