Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro June 6, 2025

Since President Trump appointed me to this interim role, I’ve remained committed to serving his administration, the NASA workforce, and the mission we carry out every day. I want to affirm that commitment won’t change as we move forward together. I’ll continue to provide steady leadership through this period of transition until a new leader is installed.

Here’s a quick look at some of the progress across our mission this past week: • NASA’s IXPE just delivered a first for astrophysics – capturing X-ray polarization of a flaring magnetar. This milestone gives us new insight into the most magnetic objects in the universe and helps refine our understanding of how extreme environments behave.

• The X-59 supersonic demonstrator continues to make progress. It’s now in the weight and balance stage – the last major step before low-speed taxi testing. The team will weigh the constructed X-59 to ensure its center of gravity matches predictions from the model of the aircraft structure and flight controls.
• NASA supported the test of a remotely piloted Cessna Caravan turboprop aircraft in Montana to assess automated taxi and safe runway technology. The test, a collaboration by Boeing, the FAA, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, applied artificial intelligence and machine learning toward a safer future commercial aviation system.
• The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope cleared a major milestone: successfully passing vibration testing of its core assembly. This step is critical for verifying it can withstand the launch environment, and it brings us one step closer to unlocking new discoveries about dark energy, planets outside our solar system, and the structure of the universe.
• Aboard the International Space Station, the Expedition 73 crew kept a steady cadence of scientific progress – from upgrading computers and biomedical devices to processing bacteria samples with 3D imaging and analyzing the station’s atmospheric conditions for a technology demonstration to protect astronaut health.

Looking ahead, we’re taking steps to streamline operations and ensure we’re aligned with mission priorities. Starting next week, we’ll introduce voluntary separation tools, including a new Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) to help manage workforce transitions thoughtfully and transparently.

As always, we remain focused on maintaining the technical excellence and capability our mission demands.

Finally, I want to be clear: we are focused on our mission. We are here to carry out the President’s vision for the future of space – with professionalism, purpose, and unity. We’ll continue working with our international and industry partners to ensure those objectives are met, staying grounded in the mission and the teamwork it takes to achieve it.

Thank you for everything you continue to do.

Embrace the Challenge,

Janet