Former Senator Bill Nelson, is ceremonially sworn-in as the 14th NASA Administrator by Vice President Kamala Harris, as his wife, Grace Nelson, holds their family Bible, and son, Bill Nelson Jr., left, and Nan Ellen Nelson, second from left, look on, Monday, May 3, 2021, at the Ceremonial Office in the Old Executive Office Building in Washington. A moon rock collected by astronaut John Young during the Apollo 16 mission was on display and former NASA Administrators Jim Bridenstine (virtually on laptop) and Charles Bolden were also present. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

From left to right, Pam Melroy, current nominee for NASA Deputy Administrator, former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Bill Nelson Jr., son of Bill Nelson, Nan Ellen Nelson, daughter of Nelson, former Senator Bill Nelson, his wife, Grace Nelson, and Vice President Kamala Harris pose for a photo after Nelson was ceremonially sworn-in as the 14th NASA Administrator, Monday, May 3, 2021, at the Ceremonial Office in the Old Executive Office Building in Washington. A moon rock collected by astronaut John Young during the Apollo 16 mission was also on display. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and his son Bill Nelson Jr. watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard from Launch Complex 39A, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will travel to a metal-rich asteroid by the same name orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter to study it’s composition. The spacecraft also carries the agency's Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration, which will test laser communications beyond the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and his son Bill Nelson Jr. watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard from Launch Complex 39A, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will travel to a metal-rich asteroid by the same name orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter to study it’s composition. The spacecraft also carries the agency's Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration, which will test laser communications beyond the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and his son Bill Nelson Jr. watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard from Launch Complex 39A, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will travel to a metal-rich asteroid by the same name orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter to study it’s composition. The spacecraft also carries the agency's Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration, which will test laser communications beyond the Moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former Senator Bill Nelson, is ceremonially sworn-in as the 14th NASA Administrator by Vice President Kamala Harris, as his wife, Grace Nelson, holds their family Bible, and son, Bill Nelson Jr., third from left, and Nan Ellen Nelson, fourth from left, look on, Monday, May 3, 2021, at the Ceremonial Office in the Old Executive Office Building in Washington. A moon rock collected by astronaut John Young during the Apollo 16 mission was on display and former NASA Administrators Jim Bridenstine (virtually on laptop) and Charles Bolden, second from left, as well as Pam Melroy, current nominee for NASA Deputy Administrator, left, were also present. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former Senator Bill Nelson, is ceremonially sworn-in as the 14th NASA Administrator by Vice President Kamala Harris, as his wife, Grace Nelson, holds their family Bible, and son, Bill Nelson Jr., third from left, and Nan Ellen Nelson, fourth from left, look on, Monday, May 3, 2021, at the Ceremonial Office in the Old Executive Office Building in Washington. A moon rock collected by astronaut John Young during the Apollo 16 mission was on display and former NASA Administrators Jim Bridenstine (virtually on laptop) and Charles Bolden, second from left, as well as Pam Melroy, current nominee for NASA Deputy Administrator, left, were also present. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, right, and his son Bill Nelson Jr., left, watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer onboard, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, from the balcony of Operations Support Building II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission is the third crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Chari, Marshburn, Barron, Maurer launched at 9:03 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center to begin a six month mission onboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, right, and his son Bill Nelson Jr., left, watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer onboard, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, from the balcony of Operations Support Building II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission is the third crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Chari, Marshburn, Barron, Maurer launched at 9:03 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center to begin a six month mission onboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

The crew assigned to the STS-61C mission included (seated left to right) Charles F. Bolden, Jr., pilot; and Robert L. (Hoot) Gibson, commander. On the back row, left to right, are payload specialists Robert J. Cenker, and Congressman Bill Nelson. To the right of Nelson are mission specialists Steven A. Hawley, George D. Nelson, and Franklin R. Chang-Diaz. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on January 12, 1986 at 6:55:00 am (EST), the STS-61C mission’s primary payload was the communications satellite SATCOM KU-1 (RCA Americom).

Amid the thousands of spectators watching the launch of STS-95 are Insurance Commissioner Bill Nelson (second from left, pointing) and Heavyweight Boxing Champion Evander Holyfield (next to him). A former U.S. representative, Nelson flew as a crew member on STS 61-C in January 1986. The STS-95 mission, which lifted off at 2:19:34 p.m. EST on Oct. 29, includes research payloads such as the Spartan solar-observing deployable spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform, the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker, as well as a SPACEHAB single module with experiments on space flight and the aging process. Extra attention has been drawn to the mission due to the addition to the crew of John H. Glenn Jr., a senator from Ohio. STS-95 is Glenn's second flight into space after 36 years; he was one of the original Project Mercury astronauts and flew his first mission in February 1962

Former Senator Bill Nelson, speaks to media after he was ceremonially sworn-in as the 14th NASA Administrator by Vice President Kamala Harris, as his wife, Grace Nelson, held their family Bible, Monday, May 3, 2021, at the Ceremonial Office in the Old Executive Office Building in Washington. A moon rock collected by astronaut John Young during the Apollo 16 mission was on display and former NASA Administrators Jim Bridenstine (virtually on laptop) and Charles Bolden, second from left, as well as Pam Melroy, current nominee for NASA Deputy Administrator, left, were also present. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former Senator Bill Nelson, speaks to media after he was ceremonially sworn-in as the 14th NASA Administrator by Vice President Kamala Harris, as his wife, Grace Nelson, held their family Bible, Monday, May 3, 2021, at the Ceremonial Office in the Old Executive Office Building in Washington. A moon rock collected by astronaut John Young during the Apollo 16 mission was on display and former NASA Administrators Jim Bridenstine (virtually on laptop) and Charles Bolden, second from left, as well as Pam Melroy, current nominee for NASA Deputy Administrator, left, were also present. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson talks to the media after the master plan signing ceremony at Port Canaveral Terminal 10. Also attending were Canaveral National Seashore Superintendent Robert Newkirk, Canaveral Port Authority Executive Director Malcolm "Mac" McLouth, KSC Director Roy Bridges Jr., U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, 45th Space Wing Commander Gregory Pavlovich, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services Refuge Manager Ron Hight, Naval Ordnance Test Unit Commanding Officer William Borger, and Florida Space Authority Executive Director Ed Gormel. The plan represents interagency cooperation between the leadership group's agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and U.S. Navy. Joining them in developing a vision of the Spaceport's future have been aerospace educators, researchers, and businesses, along with representatives from local, state and national government.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Center Director Roy Bridges addresses guests at the master plan signing ceremony at Port Canaveral Terminal 10. Also attending were Canaveral National Seashore Superintendent Robert Newkirk, Canaveral Port Authority Executive Director Malcolm "Mac" McLouth, KSC Director Roy Bridges Jr., U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, 45th Space Wing Commander Gregory Pavlovich, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services Refuge Manager Ron Hight, Naval Ordnance Test Unit Commanding Officer William Borger, and Florida Space Authority Executive Director Ed Gormel. The plan represents interagency cooperation between the leadership group's agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and U.S. Navy. Joining them in developing a vision of the Spaceport's future have been aerospace educators, researchers, and businesses, along with representatives from local, state and national government.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A Columbia Crew Memorial Service is held at the Shuttle Landing Facility for KSC employees and invited guests. KSC Director and former astronaut Roy Bridges, Jr., is seated third from right. Florida Senator Bill Nelson, seated in the center (gold tie), also flew on Columbia in 1986 as a payload specialist on mission STS 61-C. The Columbia and her crew of seven were lost on Feb. 1, 2003, over East Texas as they returned to Earth after a 16-day research mission. Taking part in the service were NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, former KSC Director Robert Crippen, astronaut Jim Halsell, several employees, area clergymen, and members of Patrick Air Force Base. The service concluded with a “Missing Man Formation Fly Over” by NASA T-38 jet aircraft.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson speaks to guests during the 2023 U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame (AHOF) Induction inside the Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on May 6, 2023. Two veteran space explorers were inducted into the AHOF Class of 2023. They are Roy D. Bridges Jr. and Mark Kelly. Inductees into the Hall of Fame are selected by a committee of Hall of Fame astronauts, former NASA officials, flight directors, historians and journalists. The process is administered by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. To be eligible, an astronaut must have made his or her first flight at least 17 years before the induction. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen and a NASA-trained commander, pilot, or mission specialist who has orbited the earth at least once. Including Bridges and Kelly, 107 astronauts have been inducted into the AHOF.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Cape Canaveral Spaceport leaders gather after the master plan signing ceremony at Port Canaveral Terminal 10. From left are Canaveral National Seashore Superintendent Robert Newkirk, Canaveral Port Authority Executive Director Malcolm "Mac" McLouth, KSC Director Roy Bridges Jr., U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, 45th Space Wing Commander Gregory Pavlovich, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services Refuge Manager Ron Hight, Naval Ordnance Test Unit Commanding Officer William Borger, and Florida Space Authority Executive Director Ed Gormel. The plan represents interagency cooperation between the leadership group's agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and U.S. Navy. Joining them in developing a vision of the Spaceport's future have been aerospace educators, researchers, and businesses, along with representatives from local, state and national government.