Senate confirms former Florida Senator Bill Nelson to helm NASA

The Senate on Thursday confirmed former Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson to serve as NASA administrator.

The confirmation came via unanimous consent, according to The Hill.

Nelson served three terms as a senator before losing a 2018 reelection bid to then-Republican Gov. Rick Scott. 

As a House member, before getting elected to the Senate in 2000, he was a payload specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia's Jan. 12-18, 1986 mission.