AP Interview: NASA chief big on climate, hedges on moon date
Source: Associated Press
AP Interview: NASA chief big on climate, hedges on moon date
By MARCIA DUNN
May 7, 2021
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s new administrator is big on tackling climate and diversifying the agency’s workforce, but hedging on whether the U.S. can put astronauts on the moon by 2024.
In his first interview since becoming NASA’s top official this week, former Sen. Bill Nelson told The Associated Press on Friday that tracking climate change is a top issue. He also wants to diversify the space agency’s workforce so it reflects America.
His underlying vision for NASA: “to explore the heavens with humans and machines.”
For landing astronauts on the moon, Nelson said the goal remains 2024, a deadline set by the Trump administration. But he said he needs more time to review the matter, especially with challenges to the contract for the astronauts’ lunar lander.
“That is the intended schedule, but I think we have to put a dose of sobering reality into our analysis,” he said from NASA headquarters in Washington.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/fl-state-wire-moon-business-government-and-politics-science-ec39b34de4e3cb2161947a1208f3dcd5