NASA Human Spaceflight Chief Doug Loverro Resigns Ahead of Launch

Loverro took the post last October to helm NASA's efforts to return humans to the lunar surface by 2024.

Updated: 20 May 2020 10:15 IST

NASA Human Spaceflight Chief Doug Loverro Resigns Ahead of Launch

Photo Credit: Reuters/ Joe Skipper

Loverro took the post last October to helm NASA's efforts to return humans to the lunar surface by 2024

Highlights

Loverro took the post last October
A NASA spokeswoman declined to comment
Loverro said his departure was "because of my personal actions."

NASA's human spaceflight chief Doug Loverro has resigned, according to an internal memo seen by agency employees on Tuesday, just a week before the agency is scheduled to launch two astronauts into space from US soil for the first time since 2011.

The resignation capped Loverro's brief role at the agency overseeing future astronaut launches and landing humans on the moon by 2024.

"Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations Doug Loverro has resigned from his position effective Monday, May 18," said the memo sent to employees on Tuesday and seen by Reuters.

NASA, SpaceX Target Historic Spaceflight Despite Coronavirus Pandemic

It added that Ken Bowersox, NASA's deputy associate administrator and a former astronaut, would take Loverro's place until a permanent replacement is found.

A NASA spokeswoman declined to comment.

In an email to colleagues seen by Reuters, Loverro said his departure was "because of my personal actions," citing without more explanation "risks" he took to meet the agency's 2024 moon deadline.

NASA Sets Stage for Global Debate Over Moon Exploration Policies

"It is clear that I made a mistake in that choice for which I alone must bear the consequences."

Loverro took the post last October to helm NASA's efforts to return humans to the lunar surface by 2024, a hastened time line set by the Trump administration in 2019.

Tom Cruise to Film a Movie Aboard the ISS, NASA Confirms

Which is the bestselling Vivo smartphone in India? Why has Vivo not been making premium phones? We interviewed Vivo's director of brand strategy Nipun Marya to find out, and to talk about the company's strategy in India going forward. We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.