Bill Nelson has stepped down as NASA administrator after a half-century of public service. His departure marks the end of an era for the agency he led during some of its most ambitious and high-profile missions. President Donald Trump appointed Janet Petro, the director of Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as interim chief, but also nominated billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman for the full job.
Nelson’s tenure was marked by significant achievements, including the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, the Europa Clipper probe, and the Artemis 1 moon mission. A veteran of politics, Nelson served in the U.S. House from 1978 to 1989 and later in the Senate from 2001 to 2019.
In a farewell message, Nelson thanked his colleagues for the privilege of serving and offered words of encouragement to whoever will succeed him as NASA chief. “Your success is NASA’s success, and NASA’s success is the nation’s success,” he wrote.
Isaacman, who has experience in both the aerospace industry and space exploration, is Trump’s preferred candidate for the full-time position. However, his appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
Nelson’s departure marks a significant change at NASA, but his legacy as a champion of space exploration will continue to be felt by the agency and the nation he served.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/bill-nelson-steps-down-as-nasa-chief-as-trump-begins-2nd-term