Janet Petro has been named the acting administrator of NASA, stepping into the role following the resignation of Bill Nelson. Petro, who previously served as the director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, is set to lead the agency during this transitional period. Bill Nelson, who has been the NASA administrator since 2021, officially announced his departure in a letter to NASA employees, expressing his pride in their accomplishments and the agency’s future endeavors. In his letter, Nelson praised the agency’s progress in space exploration, mentioning several key areas, including the Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the Moon and eventually to Mars, and the importance of continuing international collaborations and partnerships. ‘NASA is not just a space agency; it is a beacon of hope for humanity. I leave knowing I’ve done my best to further our missions, and I am excited to see where you take this agency next,’ he stated. Following his resignation, Petro’s interim leadership is expected to be critical as NASA navigates its next milestones in aerospace and continues its vital work in innovative research and exploration.
