Bill Nelson has officially stepped down as NASA Administrator, concluding a remarkable 53-year career in public service, Space.com reports.
His departure coincides with the start of Donald Trump’s second term as president on January 20. Janet Petro, the former director of Kennedy Space Center in Florida, has been appointed as NASA’s interim administrator.
Nelson, a member of the Democratic Party, began his long tenure in US government in 1972 when he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. His political career continued with a six-year term in the US House of Representatives, followed by roles as Florida’s Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal. Nelson’s significant contributions also include serving in the US Senate, a post he held from 2001 until 2019. In 2019, Nelson was appointed to NASA’s advisory council, and later that year, President Joe Biden nominated him as NASA Administrator. He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in April 2019.
During his tenure at NASA, Nelson oversaw a number of key missions and initiatives, such as the launch of the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope, the Europa Clipper probe, the DART asteroid-impact mission, and the Artemis 1 moon exploration program, which began during Trump’s first term in office.
In a post on social media, Nelson expressed gratitude for his time in public service, stating:
“As I leave public office today after 53 years, thank you for the great privilege of a lifetime of serving the people of our country. I am humbled and grateful.”
He also offered advice to the next NASA administrator, emphasizing the agency’s collective role in advancing humanity’s exploration of space.
Nelson’s successor, Janet Petro, will lead the space agency on an interim basis. However, Trump has nominated billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, known for his private spaceflight ventures, to be NASA’s full administrator. Nelson offered words of support for Isaacman, encouraging him to be successful in his new role.
