Head of NASA, Bill Nelson, on Vatican Observatory's work to explore the heavens

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"I'm very glad the Vatican is so involved in matters of space, with its Observatory, which says a lot about exploring the heavens."

In an interview with Vatican News, this was the sentiment expressed by the Head of NASA, Administrator Bill Nelson, who discussed the ongoing collaboration between the US and Holy See in space cooperation, how space exploration contributes to human fraternity, and how Pope Francis' teachings have set a powerful example for the world.

The world-renowned space expert, who led and trained space missions, also revealed why he is in town to participate in the Vatican's Human Fraternity #BeHuman meetings this weekend, and how space, offers a valuable lesson for human fraternity.

Administrator Nelson, a former Senator, also traveled to Italy this week as part of NASA’s efforts to strengthen space relationships throughout the world and to support the peaceful exploration of space.

He met with the President of the Italian Space Agency to discuss current and future collaborations, which include the Artemis Campaign to return to the Moon, the International Space Station, the exploration of Mars and Venus, and earth science missions to study our own planet.

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Q: Administrator Nelson, many may not be aware of the long-standing cooperation between the US and Holy See in space exploration. Could you shed light on the valuable collaboration between the two?

I certainly will. Most people don't even know about the Vatican Observatory and its interest in space, which goes back to the time of Copernicus and Galileo and then the advancement of science ever since.

Interestingly enough, one of the scientists at the Vatican Observatory is a participant with us at NASA, in our sample return from an asteroid. While the mission is called OSIRIS-REx, we actually returned a sample of an asteroid called Bennu, and that sample, is now at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. It is starting to be examined by the scientists, and one of those scientists, is right here, at the Vatican.

The fact that the Vatican has an Observatory says a lot about exploring the heavens. I remember in Genesis, the first line that was repeated by our astronauts when they orbited the moon for the very first time. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."  

That was Apollo 8, when they came around the back side of the moon and suddenly saw Earth, and with those words, they spoke back to the people on Earth on Christmas Day in 1968. I'm very glad the Vatican is so involved with its Observatory on matters of space.

Q: You are also in Rome for the Human Fraternity #BeHuman meetings on May 11. Why is this encounter, in your opinion, significant, and why has it attracted your attention and participation?

At the outset, they kindly invited me to make a presentation to the participants, mostly Nobel Peace Prize laureates, about the Earth, and how one perceives it, from space, namely the fact that the Earth is so beautiful, so colorful, and, at the same time, looks so fragile, suspended, in the nothingness of space.

I also observed to them from the matter as an elected official, when I flew in space 38 years ago, that I observed, as I orbited the Earth every 90 minutes, I did not see racial division. I did not see religious division. I did not see political division. When you look back at Earth, you see Earth from the perspective that we are all citizens of planet Earth.

And as they discuss matters of peace, of reconciliation, of human rights in this encounter, they invited me to make some opening comments, which I was glad to do from the perspective of seeing Earth from space.

Q: From your vast experience, which ranges from having trained and flew with the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia, mission STS-61C, the 24th flight of the Space Shuttle, which orbited Earth 98 times over six days, to being the congressional leader for the US space program, advocating to combat climate change, and being a proponent for career training and education programs in science and technology, has there been something in Pope Francis' teachings that has struck you?

Well, Pope Francis, walks his talk. The two great commands given by Jesus of Nazareth are to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and the second one of the great Commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself. And I think that's what Pope Francis preaches all the time. He walks his talk.

Q: Administrator Nelson, you have had a busy week. Can you share what has been drawing your attention...

This is the first stop of going on to another country, Saudi Arabia, which has participated with the United States in our space program. As a matter of fact, when I flew on the space shuttle 38 years ago, a Saudi astronaut, Prince Sultan, had flown on the mission just before me. I hope to see him when I'm in Saudi.

Most recently, two Saudi astronauts were flown to the International Space Station, and I will be meeting them as well. But, I wish to encourage the Saudi officials, including their space agency, to continue their cooperation because we are in this unique position where we can bring people together in the civilian space program, together as friends, as colleagues, as partners, in a way that, many times, governments have difficulty, often unable to relate to one another.

Yet we can do this so easily through our civilian space program. It's illustrative that on the International Space Station, 15 nations participate and are involved with astronauts running, and performing science experiments on the space station. That is an important message I carry.