Boulder space scientist Alan Stern will be NASAs new associate administrator for science, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said today.
Stern, 49, is executive director of the Southwest Research Institutes Space science and engineering division in Boulder, and he and will begin his new work in Washington, DC, April 2, he said.
As NASAs chief science administrator, Stern will direct the agencys research in Earth studies, space weather, the solar system and the universe beyond.
Ive never done public service. I was never in the military. This seems like a spectacular chance to give back, Stern said of his decision to accept the NASA position.
He will recuse himself from budget discussions involving New Horizons, a mission to Pluto that Stern has been planning and directing for the last 20 years. New Horizons is expected to reach the distant planet in eight years.
When Griffin offered him the job, Stern said, the NASA administrator told him hed still be able to work on the Pluto mission.
He knew I couldnt say yes without that, Stern said.
