NASA Science Chief Announces Retirement After Four Decades of Service

John Grunsfeld, head of NASA's Earth and Space Science activities, former astronaut and chief scientistwill retire on April 30. He has been in the service for four decades and would leave a remarkable legacy in the history of science and space exploration.

Space reports that Grunsfeld led the NASA's Science Mission Directorate since 2012. He managed over 100 missions. These include the New Horizon's spacecraft's epic flyby Pluto in July 2015 and the Mass Rover Curiosity's Red Planet touchdown in August 2012.

Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator and a former astronaut said that Grunsfeld will leave an extraordinary legacy of success which will remain forever in America's history of science and exploration.

"After exploring strange new worlds and seeking out the new life in the universe, I can now boldly go where I've rarely gone before - home," said Grunsfeld. He also expressed his gratefulness of having a great opportunity to lead the NASA science.

John Grunsfeld was born on October 10, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1980. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Physics in 1988 and Master of Science in Physics in 1984 at University of Chicago.

Grunsfeld's research includes high-energy cosmic rays, x-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, development of new detectors and instrumentation. He also studied the energetic x-ray and gamma-ray and the binary pulsars utilizing the x-ray astronomy satellites, NASA Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, optical telescopes such as the NASA Hubble Space Telescope and radio telescopes.

He had five shuttle missions that include the servicing missions to Hubble in 2009, 2002 and 1999. This earned him the nickname "Hubble hugger." Grunsfeld was invested into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile, Space News reports that the directorate's deputy, Geoff Yoder, will act as an associate administrator until a successor will be named by the agency.