Steve Jurczyk

Acting Administrator of NASA

Three 'Steve Jurczyk' stories March 2020 - January 2021

Steve Jurczyk is the current acting administrator of NASA. He took the position after the previous administrator, Jim Bridenstine, decided to step down in January 2021. However, it is important to note that Jurczyk will not retain the position as the Biden Administration will be nominating a replacement in the near future.

Jurczyk is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering. He started his career at NASA in 1988 at Langley Research Center as a design, integration, and testing engineer. Here, he developed space-based Earth remote sensing systems.

After a lengthy career at Langley, Jurczyk was appointed to be the associate administrator of the Space Technology Missions Directorate in 2015. In this position, he helped developed advanced technologies for human and robotic exploration of our solar system. A few years later, in 2018, he became NASA’s associate administrator, which is the agency’s highest-ranking civil servant position.

Steve Jurczyk becomes Acting Administrator of NASA as Jim Bridenstine shares farewell video

Zac Hall Jan 20 2021 - 10:15 am PT

0 Comments

The United States has a new President, and NASA has a new top boss. NASA’s Associate Administrator has been elevated to the position of Acting Administrator following the resignation of Jim Bridenstine.

Expand Expanding Close

Mars Perseverance rover launch shifts to July 30 after multiple hiccups, August 5 deadline extended

Zac Hall Jun 30 2020 - 5:32 pm PT

0 Comments

The window for launching from Earth to Mars opens on July 17. NASA planned to use the date to launch its newest Mars rover Perseverance tasked with finding signs of past life on Mars.

NASA associate administrator Steve Jurczyk shared on June 9, however, that the earliest date launch partner United Launch Alliance can lift off is July 20. The launch date slipped back another two days on June 24 following a “ground support systems issue identified during the packing of the spacecraft into protective fairings that go on top of the rocket.”

As of June 30, however, the current launch target is no earlier than July 30. The original launch target extended through August 5, although NASA and ULA believe they can launch as late as August 15 if needed.

Expand Expanding Close