Charles Bolden Selected To Lead NASA

The Obama administration announced on Saturday the nomination to head the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, former space shuttle astronaut and retired Marine General, Charles F. Bolden Jr.

NASA selected Bolden in 1980 and by August 1981 he became an astronaut. He's logged over 680 hours in space and is a veteran of four space flights in total. Bolden served as pilot on STS-61C (January 1218, 1986) and STS-31 (April 2429, 1990), and was the mission commander on STS-45 (March 24, 1992 April 2, 1992), and STS-60 (February 3-11, 1994).



Bolden graduated from C. A. Johnson High School in Columbia, SC in 1964. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical science from the USNA in 1968 and then a master of science in systems management in 1977 from the University of Southern California.

Also announced today was Lori Garver, a former NASA associate administrator for policy and plans whom will serve as Bolden's deputy.

"These talented individuals will help put NASA on course to boldly push the boundaries of science, aeronautics, and exploration in the 21st century and ensure the long-term vibrancy of America's space program," President Obama said in a statement on Saturday.

Bolden will definitely have a lot on his plate by taking on his new role. There's the new retirement of the space shuttle's themselves as we know them today. There is also the Constellation Space Program underway that will allow astronauts to return to the moon by 2020 and then on to Mars after that. It would appear as though Bolden is definitely up to the challenges ahead and it also appears that America is pleased with the choice that Obama has made.