Charlie Bolden is a former astronaut who became the first African American administrator of NASA in 2009. Under his leadership, NASA focused on advancing space exploration, including the development of the Space Launch System and the continuation of the Mars rover missions. Hear how he was "embarrassed " into being an astronaut, what it was like to work in NASA's safety division only weeks after the Challenger Disaster, and the three subsequent missions he lead after that, space diplomacy, and so much more. With the work the FCC is leading in in the Space Bureau and the growing importance of the space economy, this conversation highlights the United States’ role in keeping us connecting at the literal highest levels. Conversation recorded in July 2024.