NASA Chief Scientist to retire in 2022

NASA is about to close an important chapter in its history. Chief scientist Jim Green, who has worked at the agency for over 40 years, now plans to retire in early 2022. He began by developing the equivalent of NASA to the Internet (the Space Physics Analysis Network) shortly after he arrived in 1980, but he’s best known for overseeing some of NASA’s biggest space exploration projects in the past 15 years – you’re probably very familiar with his work.

Green headed NASA’s planetary science division during the Curiosity landing in 2012 and was instrumental in promoting and explaining the Mars rover to the public. He also played a leading role in the Juno probe’s investigation of Jupiter, Messenger’s tour of Mercury, Dawn’s visit to Ceres, and New Horizons’ historic flyby of Pluto. The scientist also gave the green light to plans for the Perseverance rover which is currently traveling through Mars.

It is not yet clear who will succeed Green, although he will assist him in the search for his replacement. However, it is safe to say that he will have a healthy legacy. It both nurtured the missions and made them more accessible to the public – he helped explain why Curiosity, New Horizons, and other vehicles were exciting. If you’re pursuing a career in space science, Green’s work just might have served as inspiration.