NASA, head of NASA's executive, leaves the mission a few weeks after his appointment

A NASA leader who is leading the strategy to send American astronauts back to the moon has resigned just six weeks after his appointment.

Mark Sirangelo was hired in April as a special assistant to NASA's administrator Jim BridenstineJames (Jim) Frederick BridenstineChef of NASA: A good boost for the return to the moon is not the moment to abandon the space launch system of NASA Can America come back to the Moon from here 2024? MORE.

Bridenstine announced Thursday that Sirangelo "has chosen to pursue other opportunities," according to Reuters.

Sirangelo's brutal departure comes amid what Reuters has described as Capitol Hill's "cold" response to the Trump government's plans to send the Americans back to the moon by 2024.

Vice President Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceNASA, head of the first lunar mission, several weeks after his appointment, Republicans spend more than a million dollars on Trump's properties Dozens of graduates leave the city to protest the speech penny said in March that the administration had committed to land astronauts on the moon five years hence, marking the most concrete calendar on the surface of the moon.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpNASA, Leader of the Lunar Leadership Mission, Leaves Several Weeks After His Appointment The Hill & # 39; s Morning Report – After a Controversial Week, Trump Moves to Japan Frustration Overflows with the Senate's "Legislative Cemetery" NEXT He also announced earlier this month that his budget would include an additional $ 1.6 billion for NASA, saying the US is "returning to the moon and then to Mars".

NASA also announced Thursday a $ 375 million contract with Maxar Technologies for the development of power and propulsion capabilities for the lunar mission.

The Hill has contacted NASA for comments.