NASA Chief Reveals Belief in God After Traveling Space: ‘His Kingdom…’

0:06 the idea that maybe this was all part of some extraordinary grand design is um you know those thoughts have to go through your mind like it's um it's just it's too interesting of a perspective not to not to kind of go down that road I think so um but it is like this is this is what we are pursuing right now we are going to learn so much you know in the years ahead head and I absolutely believe we were destined to do this to go out to explore and to seek out a lot of those answers and they're waiting for us. >> What is all of this exploration of the great beyond and the mysteries that interwine all of it? How does that affect your relationship with a creator with God? What does what

0:53 what does the mysteries of the universe unraveled tell you? all great minds have that that have thought of these things or reached for the stars eventually come to this to some realization about their relationship with the creator. >> You know, I'll tell you, I mean, I you know, I've been to space twice and uh I think it's very hard to be there and not be somewhat spiritual. Um because you just have an appreciation for, you know, how small we are in the grand scheme of things, like the enormity of what's around us. Um and like it had to have all started like somewhere, right? We don't have, you know, uh an answer for that right now. So the idea that maybe this was all part of some extraordinary grand design is um you know, those

1:39 thoughts have to go through your mind. Like it's um it's just it's too interesting of a perspective not to not to kind of go down that road, I think. So um but it is like this is this is what we're pursuing right now. We are going to learn so much, you know, in the years ahead. And I absolutely believe we were destined to do this, to go out to explore and to seek out a lot of those answers, and they're waiting for us. >> Yeah. Uh on stage at a event last fall, you said that the um that Charlie Kirk's life helped you sort of uh reimagine or reconnect with your faith. >> Yep. >> And to start reading the Bible again. I'm wondering how does that affect your your day-to-day here at at NASA?

2:24 >> Well, I think it's uh it's it's only more motivating. In fact, if you go back and you and I feel like I've read every book from the uh um you know, from the Great Space Race, from from every one of those astronauts, and a lot of them will tell you that going into space only like reinforced their beliefs. Um and I I think that's very much the same way. Now for sure I I think what happened to Charlie was uh impactful to I mean anyone who saw what went down and know what he stood for who had listened to him. Um and absolutely that I mean I I said it when we were there at the turning point event. I mean that was a you know that was the first time in probably uh decades that I started to to read the Bible. Um and I still do. Um

3:10 and uh yeah I don't think that that would have happened. Uh, I I don't think I would have had that, you know, kind of um that calling in that moment had it not been for what happened to to Charlie. >> This is an unbelievable calling. What would be the final discovery that you would like? What would be your legacy here? Because this is the first time that in my lifetime there's been an inspirational NASA administrator that actually wishes to once again reinvigorate. I mean, I could like the energy is just kind of bouncing off of you as we sit here in the shadow really of the Artemis and what's to come. It's it's been inspiring. I've never seen it before. >> Well, you know, I uh I went to every one of the NASA centers. I met with our workforce. Uh I get information constantly like I want to hear from our nation's best and brightest. What's working so we can do more of it and

3:56 what's broken so I can so I can fix it and clear it out of the way and really un unleash their potential. And a lot of them asked me that same question. They said, you know, what do you want your legacy to be at NASA? I was like, "Well, I could give you the lazy answer, which is, "Oh, I want to I want to oversee America's return to the moon." That is that is luck and timing to be to be nominated by President Trump when you have the mandate and you have the resources to actually make it possible. Like to me, I was like, you know what what I want my legacy to be, I want to I want to, you know, make sure all of our resources here are concentrated on the real needle movers, why this agency exists in the first place. And I want to clear out all of the bureaucracy, all of the obstacles that impede your progress and unleash you. And if we can do that, well then building a moon base is going to seem pale in comparison to what we

4:41 are capable of doing in the years ahead. That that's my promise to the workforce. >> Final question. You're a huge Star Wars fan. >> Yes. >> It's got to kind of be like a childhood dream coming true. I mean, because you're like uh actually doing Star Wars, >> you know. I uh look, I I this has been my dream since uh since kindergarten. I always wanted to be an astronaut. I became a pilot because I thought that was as good as it was going to get. You know, I used to when you watch Nickelodeon in the 80s. Every game show, like the end of it was like, and the first place winner gets an all expense paid trip to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama on a Delta Airline, right? And I was like, I'm going to Space Camp. And then I watched the movie Space Camp. Um, I am absolutely living the dream. I'm incredibly grateful for to President Trump for putting me in this position, giving me the resources, the team, the

5:28 mandate to get the job done to return American astronauts to the moon, to build the moon base and do all the other exciting things like getting ready for Mars. It's awesome. >> I'll hear from Yavin 4. I mean, you're literally living the Star Wars. You're actually doing it in real life. You can't >> I am 100% living the dream. >> Oh, man. Uh, in conclusion, what do we what's your final message about what we're going to see tomorrow hopefully with this launch? What's your what can what can people prepare for? >> I think you're seeing the beginning. >> I really uh and I'll tell you the astronauts. Uh, so Reed and Victor and Christina and Jeremy who are on this mission, they believe that, too. When they were asked what do they uh what do they want their mission to be remembered by, they said, "We hope that it's forgotten." And I and I was like, "No, you know, I understand why you're saying that because, you know, it's the

6:14 beginning of a very grand journey, but it they will be remembered. They will be the remembered for igniting this to getting it going again, for America returning to the lunar environment and all the exciting missions to come, including American astronauts getting back to the surface, building the base. So this time when we go, we go to stay." >> Oh man, it's history in the making. It >> sure is >> history in the making. Thank you, Mr. Administrator. >> Thank you, Vinnie. It's great again, buddy. >> The man the man who is making space great again and it's just an it is inspirational. You are in your element here, man. It's so cool. >> It's great to be here. Thanks for coming out. Thanks for coming out and visiting it. You're going to you're going to love what we're going to do tomorrow.