NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is seen as he testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., delivers an opening statement before NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcomittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ranking Member Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., delivers an opening statement before NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcomittee, during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, seen on a television monitor, testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren, D-CA, gives opening remarks during a hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., gives opening remarks during a hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing regarding the NASA Fiscal Year 2025 budget, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson talks with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Chair Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee prior to a subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testifies before the Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee during a fiscal year 2025 budget hearing, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Chair Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee, left, and Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. question NASA Administrator Bill Nelson during a subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget, Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)