In His Own Words

• In an interview with Newsweek released on September 24, 2021, Nelson reiterated on his hope that China would establish a cooperative relationship with NASA just like the Russians have for decades.

I wish China were a partner with us, like the Russians have been ever since the days of the Soviet Union in 1975, when we had the Apollo-Soyuz, and we’ve continued to co-operate ever since.

He also shed light on his overall impression of competition in the space realm.

I have frequently said that we need competition. We need competition, because what you’re talking about is just the first demonstration landing. We need sustained landing. And in order to get the best price, at the earliest time for all of that sustained activity on the moon, we need a competition. That’s where I have been asking the Congress to give us the money so that we can have that competition. Show me the money…

In His Own Words

• At the 36th Space Symposium on August 25, 2021, while speaking on a “Heads of Agency” panel alongside seven other global space leaders, Nelson commented on the current state of the International Space Station and how China has been building its own space station. 

Unfortunately, I believe we’re in a space race with China.

I’m speaking on behalf of the United States, for China to be a partner. I’d like China to do with us as a military adversary, like Russia has done…I would like to try to do that. But China is very secretive, and part of the civilian space program is that you’ve got to be transparent.

At this symposium Nelson also indirectly called the Chinese “irresponsible folks” who have contributed to the problem of space junk, referring to a 2007 anti-satellite test of a ground-based missile.

We’ve had irresponsible folks that have launched and blown up assets and there are thousands of pieces of space junk that are flying around at 17,500 miles an hour. They’re in that altitude range where our space station is, indeed where the Chinese space station is as well.

In His Own Words

• On July 21, 2021, Nelson held a live interview with The Washington Post titled “The Path Forward: New Frontiers in Space” during which he discussed China’s space program:

The Chinese are very intolerant of any examination of their space program. They are very inflexible, they are not very transparent… I think we are in a space race with China, they’re aggressive, they are good, but I wish they’d do what the old Soviet Union did when it came to civilian space, I wish they’d cooperate and be transparent.

• On July 17, 2021, Nelson was interviewed alongside former astronaut Mae Jemison by Greta Van Susteren on Grey Television’s Full Court Press. When questioned about China’s “very aggressive” space program, Neslon replied:

They say they want international cooperation, but when it comes to really opening up, being transparent, then they draw the line.

Nelson also directly compared the situations between U.S.-Russia and U.S.-China cooperation in space in terms of how frictions between governments can impact space relations:

Isn’t that interesting? If you take the Soviet Union, now Russia, for example: a lot of friction down on terra firma between our two governments, but yet we cooperate in space. Not so with China. China has been very secretive about their so-called civilian space program, which really is one and the same with their military space program.

In His Own Words

• On June 15, 2021, Nelson testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations regarding the FY 2022 Budget Request for NASA.
  • The official statement that he presented during the meeting  made no mention of China or Russia.

During this hearing, Nelson did bring up the threat of competition from the China, particularly noting the lack of hesitation on the side of NASA’s Chinese counterparts in space exploration.

Be mindful of what a very aggressive space competitor is doing. I’m talking about China…

It’s going to be important for us to be landing on the surface of the moon with the first woman and the person of color before our competitors do…

Nelson also indirectly proposed to the policymakers that maintaining dominance in space, specifically against China, could be a national-level priority: 

I think you’re going to see a very aggressive China…I think that’s going to become a question for you all as policymakers. What is the value to the United States that we get back to the moon first, and get on with this program in preparation to go to Mars?

• On June 10, 2021, Nelson held a Q&A-style interview with Politico Pro on a wide range of space issues, including the relationship with China in space. When asked whether talking with China is ‘in the cards’ of his strategy for NASA, Neslon replied: 

There are places where we need to cooperate and deconflict on any possible orbits. We certainly need to cooperate on orbital debris that could strike our space station as well as theirs that they are putting up. There are areas of cooperation that we can do with China … recognizing the limits under law that have been placed upon us and recognizing also the realities that the Chinese haven’t been very transparent.

• Directly following his first State of NASA Address on June 2, 2021, Nelson held a 30-minute news conference at NASA Headquarters in Washington. During this time, Nelson made two main statements about China. The first is about their “lack of transparency” over the rocket core that fell uncontrolled to Earth last month and how he “hope[s] that China will respond” to calls for transparent cooperation (01:47:00):

…this is in the backdrop of a lack of transparency about the rocket core that went out of control. Could you give us a little more volume, please? That just simply shouldn’t be…at least you ought to be open about it. I want to see that change in our relationship with China. There is a lot that we can do to cooperate. We must cooperate, for example on avoidance. We need to be able to warn each other on space debris.  There is a lot that we can do if you will be open about it and I look forward to that. I hope that China will respond.

The second addressed his current thoughts on the recent joint China-Russia activity in space (15:00:00):

…it is unique that in space, two enemies with guns pointing at each other on Earth can cooperate, as we have done, since 1975. Although you are hearing statements out of the Soviet government and some from the Russian space programs saying that they are going to pull out of the space station now there serious talk about Russia and China hitching up together and going to the Moon. And so that is concerning…What I hope is that they are going to think long and hard before they would all out of the cooperation they had with us.

• With the release of NASA’s FY2022 budget request, observers are reevaluating the Biden Administration’s view of space policy in the United States’ national security plan.

During a phone interview with UPI on May 27, 2021, Nelson made multiple comments on the topic of competition in the space realm and how competition impact NASA’s FY2022 budget request.

“They [some members of Congress] want competition, and so do I…I suspect that with this human landing system, that we’re going to see more money forthcoming from the Congress in order to have a vigorous competition.”

“Competition is always good because at the end of the day, with competition you get the best price, and you get the greatest efficiency.”

• On May 28, 2021, Nelson held a press conference where he acknowledged the “record-high” levels of funding among other hopes for NASA’s future.

This is a very aggressive forward-leaning budget for NASA.

Nelson explained how the President’s budget request for NASA directly compliments the Biden Administration’s overall strategy for the United States.

“The Biden Administration is proving that science is back.”

“The President’s budget request is a recognition that NASA’s missions contribute to the Administration’s larger goals for America — climate change, promoting equity, driving economic growth, STEM, research and development, all of which equal jobs.”

Nelson also told reporters of his hopes that Russian-US cooperation on the International Space Station would continue and that he looked forward to speaking with his Russian counterparts on the topic. 

We have been cooperating in space ever since we built the International Space Station together. Russia is a vital partner to the space station, and I expect Russia to continue…And I look forward to our discussions about the continuation of that extraordinary relationship.

Concurrently, Nelson noted how opportunities for cooperation in space can continue apart from other ongoing difficulties found on Earth.

In times when things might be a little more difficult on the face of the earth, we seem to be getting along pretty good in space

In His Own Words

• In his first congressional hearing as NASA Administrator on May 19, 2021, Bill Nelson addressed China, China’s ambitions in space and its potential concerns for NASA. Pam Melroy, nominee for deputy administrator of NASA, echoed these concerns about China’s “space dominance” in her nomination hearing.

On China’s ambitions for the Moon:

It is a very aggressive competitor…they’re going to be landing humans on the moon. That should tell us something about our need to get off our duff and get our human landing system going vigorously.

Nelson reportedly used China’s successful Mars rover mission images “as a warning against American complacency in space exploration.”

According to Space News, Nelson also said that China is planning three “big landers” to go to the south pole of the Moon and “cited unnamed reports that claim that China is planning ‘a flyby and a lunar lander in the decade of the 2020s.'”

In a reporting by Space Policy Online, Nelson also linked his concerns about China to its apparent lack of transparency over the origins of COVID-19.

But the Chinese. That’s nothing to sneeze at and ignore. And when you combine that with the fact that they have an aggressive plan on the moon, and also have an aggressive plan with humans. And when you combine that with, for example, if there’s truth to the more recent press reports as of last evening from the intelligence community, that there is some evidence, not corroborated yet, that indeed that the virus COVID started in a lab, not an animal market, then, and there is no transparency, apparently, from China, and I think we have to be concerned.

Within this context, Nelson requested a total funding for NASA of over $11 billion for 2022; a $1.5 billion increase from 2021. With the passing of the Endless Frontier Act with a 86-11 vote on May 17, 2021, it can be suggested that most of Congress values U.S. involvement in the space domain.

NASA can’t do it alone. You all are our partners…We want a vigorous competition, but we’ve got to have the money in order to be able to do that.

• On May 17, 2021, Administrator Nelson conducted an interview with The Verge, during which he discussed future plans for NASA and the status of space partnerships. When asked about his views on partnering with China and the Wolf Amendment that largely restricts any space cooperation with China, Nelson replied: 

Well, it is the law. And until the law is changed, we’re going to adhere to the law.

However, he elaborated that there remain opportunities for cooperation with China that need to be addressed:

There are obvious things that, regardless of the law, you can still cooperate with China on. For example, if China is successful in landing a lander today on Mars, there are things that we can share. Going forward in the future, there are things that we need to share with China, such as the avoidance of space junk. So there are many, many things like that where you can really have a cooperative relationship.

When directly asked about making changes to the Wolf Amendment, Nelson succinctly asked for “a while to be in the saddle” before answering that question.

Furthermore, in that same interview, Nelson addressed the recent cooperative signals between China and Russia with minimal concern: 

I see a continuing close cooperation. Regardless of the statements that you hear coming from time to time that would indicate otherwise, I just think, at the end of the day, Russia’s going to continue to be our partner. I think we have to watch the things like Russia and China saying that they’re going to cooperate on landing on the Moon, but it’s a big difference saying that than doing it. So I want to continue the partnership with the Russians.

Media

• “Bill Nelson Isn’t the Best Choice for NASA Administrator,” Scientific American, April 12, 2021

In His Own Words

• “Senator Bill Nelson, Testimony before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee,” U.S. Senate, April 21, 2021

NASA is best known for its human and robotic exploration of the solar system, which will continue to be a focus for this administration. But NASA also plays a major role in developing solutions to some of the challenges we face here on Earth – climate change, educating and inspiring a diverse STEM workforce, building back better through innovation, and using space to create and strengthen global alliances and ensure U.S. global leadership….

Finally, the President has highlighted that space investments spur economic growth, improve life on Earth, and keep America competitive.

Media

• The public and professionals in the field have responded to Nelson’s nomination with mixed reviews with some citing concerns that Nelson could bring NASA into a period of backward thinking at a crucial time of competition in the space realm. His status as a ‘’politician’ rather than a ‘scientist’ has received praise for the access it will gain but concern over how deeply Nelson would be able to truly understand and relate with the complexities of scientific projects at NASA. Many professionals have voiced their opinions on the President’s selection.

• • “As a member of Congress, Bill Nelson flew to space. As NASA administrator, he’d face a host of challenges.” The Washington Post, March 19, 2021
  • “NASA Statement by Acting Administrator Steve Jurczyk on Nomination of Bill Nelson for Agency Administrator,” NASA, March 19, 2021
  • “Widespread support for Nelson nomination to lead NASA,” SpaceNews, March 19, 2021

“Bill Nelson has long been one of NASA’s strongest and most passionate advocates,” said Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.

• • “Biden Nominates Former Florida Senator to Lead NASA,” The New York Times, March 19, 2021
  • “Nelson nominated as NASA chief, ending talk of 1st woman getting the job,” Orlando Sentinel, March 19, 2021
  • “Former Senator Bill Nelson nominated to lead NASA,” Science, March 19, 2021

And although Nelson famously railed against [Jim] Bridenstine’s nomination, having a politician lead the agency is not a bad idea. ‘Like the president, he is a member of the Senate club…And so he’s going to have access,’” explained John Logsdon, a space policy analyst at George Washington University.

• • “There’s Nothing Historic About Biden’s NASA Pick,” The Atlantic, March 19, 2021
  • “Bill Nelson’s nomination as NASA administrator is replete with irony,” The Hill, March 21, 2021
  • “Nelson’s nomination to head NASA draws both cheers and jeers,” Florida Today, March 22, 2021

“Bill Nelson will have the influence to deliver strong budgets for NASA, and when necessary, he will be able to enlist the help of his friend, President Joe Biden,” former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement.

“The relationship he has with many in NASA already, the leadership roles he’s taken in advocating for space and his vision for the future, just can’t be beat,” said Representative Bill Posey.

• • “How a political boss could help NASA,” Axios, March 23, 2021
  • “Will Senator “Ballast” Drag NASA Down?” City Journal, March 28, 2021

On paper, the choice makes sense….[but t]he senator’s heavy-handed meddling repeatedly forced the agency to employ outdated methods and technologies, and wasted billions of taxpayer dollars….Some space experts hope Nelson’s long friendship with President Biden will help protect the agency. “I’m trying to stay positive,” says author Joe Pappalardo, author of Spaceport Earth….And few question the former senator’s enthusiasm for NASA and space exploration.

“But many are dismayed at the choice…’Nelson represents everything NASA needs to get away from,’ tweeted astrophysicist Simon Porter, who worked on the agency’s New Horizon Pluto mission. ‘Now is not the time to turn back the clock at NASA,’ echoed Lori Garver, who served as NASA’s deputy administrator under Obama. The nomination ‘kind of boggles the mind,’ said John Logsdon, a former NASA advisor and ex-head of George Washington University’s Space Policy Institute.”

• Bill Nelson’s nomination was not announced until March, so there was little-to-no public commentary on or by Nelson until March.

In His Own Words