NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro.

NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro.

NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro.

NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro.

Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro addresses friends, colleagues, and family following her acceptance of the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award on June 24, 2022, during a ceremony held at the Florida spaceport’s visitor complex. The National Space Club Florida Committee presented Petro with the prestigious award for her contributions to America’s aerospace efforts within the state of Florida. The award – originating in 1990 – is named after Kennedy’s first director.

National Space Club Florida Chapter Chair Tara Miller presents Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro with the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award during a ceremony held at the Florida spaceport’s visitor complex on June 24, 2022. The committee presented Petro with the prestigious award for her contributions to America’s aerospace efforts within the state of Florida. The award – originating in 1990 – is named after Kennedy’s first director.

Scott Henderson, vice president of Test and Operations at Blue Origin, speaks at a ceremony honoring Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro with the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award on June 24, 2022, at the Florida spaceport’s visitor complex. The National Space Club Florida Committee presented Petro with the prestigious award for her contributions to America’s aerospace efforts within the state of Florida. The award – originating in 1990 – is named after Kennedy’s first director.

Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro addresses friends, colleagues, and family following her acceptance of the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award on June 24, 2022, during a ceremony held at the Florida spaceport’s visitor complex. The National Space Club Florida Committee presented Petro with the prestigious award for her contributions to America’s aerospace efforts within the state of Florida. The award – originating in 1990 – is named after Kennedy’s first director.

Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro is photographed in the audience during an award ceremony held in her honor on June 24, 2022, at the Florida spaceport’s visitor complex. The National Space Club Florida Committee presented Petro with the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award for her contributions to America’s aerospace efforts within the state of Florida. The award – originating in 1990 – is named after Kennedy’s first director.

Scott Henderson, vice president of Test and Operations at Blue Origin, speaks at a ceremony honoring Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro with the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award on June 24, 2022, at the Florida spaceport’s visitor complex. The National Space Club Florida Committee presented Petro with the prestigious award for her contributions to America’s aerospace efforts within the state of Florida. The award – originating in 1990 – is named after Kennedy’s first director.

Brigadier General Stephen Purdy, commander of Space Launch Delta 45, speaks at a ceremony honoring Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro with the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award on June 24, 2022, at the Florida spaceport’s visitor complex. The National Space Club Florida Committee presented Petro with the prestigious award for her contributions to America’s aerospace efforts within the state of Florida. The award – originating in 1990 – is named after Kennedy’s first director.

Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro addresses friends, colleagues, and family following her acceptance of the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award on June 24, 2022, during a ceremony held at the Florida spaceport’s visitor complex. The National Space Club Florida Committee presented Petro with the prestigious award for her contributions to America’s aerospace efforts within the state of Florida. The award – originating in 1990 – is named after Kennedy’s first director.

Bill Parsons, vice president of Human Space Programs at Peraton, speaks at a ceremony honoring Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro with the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award on June 24, 2022, at the Florida spaceport’s visitor complex. The National Space Club Florida Committee presented Petro with the prestigious award for her contributions to America’s aerospace efforts within the state of Florida. The award – originating in 1990 – is named after Kennedy’s first director.

Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro, second from left, poses with Maverick Constructors LLC employees, from left, Carlos Rodriguez, president, Ralph Kennedy, East Coast division manager, Liz McGrath, Sheri LaShier, and Stephanie Liquori inside Kennedy’s Central Campus Headquarters Building on May 3, 2022. Maverick, the construction company that completed the demolition of Kennedy’s former headquarters, presented Petro with two preserved sections of the building. The presentation of the 15-pound wall tiles is in honor of the many civil servants and contractors who dedicated their lives to working for and supporting NASA in this building.

Wall tiles from Kennedy Space Center’s former headquarters building are presented to Kennedy Director Janet Petro inside the Florida spaceport’s Central Campus Headquarters Building on May 3, 2022. The two 15-pound sections from the building were preserved by Maverick Constructors LLC, the construction company that completed demolition of the structure. The company’s presentation of the tiles is in honor of the many civil servants and contractors who dedicated their lives to working for and supporting NASA in this building.

Wall tiles from Kennedy Space Center’s former headquarters building are presented to Kennedy Director Janet Petro inside the Florida spaceport’s Central Campus Headquarters Building on May 3, 2022. The two 15-pound sections from the building were preserved by Maverick Constructors LLC, the construction company that completed demolition of the structure. The company’s presentation of the tiles is in honor of the many civil servants and contractors who dedicated their lives to working for and supporting NASA in this building.

Wall tiles from Kennedy Space Center’s former headquarters building are presented to Kennedy Director Janet Petro inside the Florida spaceport’s Central Campus Headquarters Building on May 3, 2022. The two 15-pound sections from the building were preserved by Maverick Constructors LLC, the construction company that completed demolition of the structure. The company’s presentation of the tiles is in honor of the many civil servants and contractors who dedicated their lives to working for and supporting NASA in this building. Shown in the photo are Maverick East Coast division manager Ralph Kennedy and Sheri LaShier.

Wall tiles from Kennedy Space Center’s former headquarters building are presented to Kennedy Director Janet Petro inside the Florida spaceport’s Central Campus Headquarters Building on May 3, 2022. The two 15-pound sections from the building were preserved by Maverick Constructors LLC, the construction company that completed demolition of the structure. The company’s presentation of the tiles is in honor of the many civil servants and contractors who dedicated their lives to working for and supporting NASA in this building. Shown in the photo are Maverick East Coast division manager Ralph Kennedy and Sheri LaShier.

Janet E. Petro, Director, NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro, left, and Israel Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation Gila Gamliel, right, pose for a picture before they met to discuss areas of ongoing and potential future U.S.-Israel collaboration in science and exploration, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro, left, and Israel Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation Gila Gamliel, right, met to discuss areas of ongoing and potential future U.S.-Israel collaboration in science and exploration, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

KSC Town Hall Center Director Bob Cabana, Deputy Director Janet Petro and KSC Chief Medical Officer David Tipton

Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro, fourth from right, poses with other center leaders and support staff during the 2022 Center Director’s Holiday Coffee on Dec. 7, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From left are Deputy Director Kelvin Manning; Kennedy Space Center employees Michael Haddad, Maggi Dutczak, and Cindy Rymer; Associate Director Technical Burt Summerfield; Associate Director Operations Jennifer Kunz; Petro; Kennedy employees Heidi Culp, Amber Chieffe, and Amanda Hayes. The annual holiday event is an opportunity for Kennedy employees and NASA retirees to exchange holiday greetings with center leaders and fellow support staff.

Kennedy Space Center Janet Petro recognizes the Red Crew/High Crew for their support of the Artemis I test flight.

Janet Petro, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, speaks during a panel discussion with agency center directors at the 2024 Artemis Suppliers Conference, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro speaks during the 2022 Center Director’s Holiday Coffee, on Dec. 7, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The annual holiday event is an opportunity for Kennedy employees and NASA retirees to exchange holiday greetings with center leaders and fellow support staff.

Senior managers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center pose inside the Florida spaceport’s Central Campus Headquarters building on Feb. 24, 2020, in recognition of Women’s History Month. Pictured are: Hortense Diggs, Susan Kroskey, Janet Petro, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Vicki Johnston, Maria Collura, Jeanne O’Bryan, Vanessa Stromer, Kim Carter, Laura Rochester, Becky Murray, Jennifer Kunz, Barbara Brown, Kathy Loftin, Jenny Lyons, Dana Hutcherson and Dicksy Chrostowski.

Senior managers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center pose inside the Florida spaceport’s Central Campus Headquarters building on Feb. 24, 2020, in recognition of Women’s History Month. Pictured are: Hortense Diggs, Susan Kroskey, Janet Petro, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Vicki Johnston, Maria Collura, Jeanne O’Bryan, Vanessa Stromer, Kim Carter, Laura Rochester, Becky Murray, Jennifer Kunz, Barbara Brown, Kathy Loftin, Jenny Lyons, Dana Hutcherson and Dicksy Chrostowski.

Senior managers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center pose inside the Florida spaceport’s Central Campus Headquarters building on Feb. 24, 2020, in recognition of Women’s History Month. Pictured are: Hortense Diggs, Susan Kroskey, Janet Petro, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Vicki Johnston, Maria Collura, Jeanne O’Bryan, Vanessa Stromer, Kim Carter, Laura Rochester, Becky Murray, Jennifer Kunz, Barbara Brown, Kathy Loftin, Jenny Lyons, Dana Hutcherson and Dicksy Chrostowski.

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro is seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro and Representative Shontel Brown at the Read to the Final Four event In Cleveland, OH on April 5, 2024 where the NCAA, Women’s Final Four and the Cleveland Local Organizing Committee have teamed up to help third graders across the state develop their abilities as part of a nine-week program designed to leave a lasting impact on students throughout Ohio. From January to April 2024, local elementary students are encouraged to track their reading minutes leading up to the Women’s Final Four. Participating students and leading classrooms will receive awards at Tourney Town to celebrate their accomplishments. Photo Credit: (NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna)

Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Janet Petro participates in a virtual town hall at the Florida spaceport’s Press Site auditorium on June 10, 2020, to share the plan for employees to safely return to on-site work during the time of COVID-19. Also participating were Center Director Bob Cabana and Dr. David Tipton, chief medical officer, not pictured.

Members of NASA Kennedy Space Center leadership hold a virtual town hall at the Florida spaceport’s Press Site auditorium on June 10, 2020, to share the plan for employees to safely return to on-site work during the time of COVID-19. From left to right are Dr. David Tipton, Kennedy’s Chief Medical Officer (participating via monitor), event moderator Marie Lewis of NASA Communications, Center Director Bob Cabana and Deputy Director Janet Petro.

Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Janet Petro participates in a virtual town hall at the Florida spaceport’s Press Site auditorium on June 10, 2020, to share the plan for employees to safely return to on-site work during the time of COVID-19. Also participating were Center Director Bob Cabana and Dr. David Tipton, chief medical officer, not pictured.

Dr. David Tipton, far right, Kennedy Space Center chief medical officer, participates via monitor during a virtual town hall at the Florida spaceport’s Press Site auditorium on June 10, 2020, to share the plan for employees to safely return to on-site work during the time of COVID-19. Also participating were Center Director Bob Cabana, left, and Deputy Director Janet Petro, center.

Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro, right, poses with Kennedy employee Jerad Merbitz at the 2022 Center Director’s Holiday Coffee on Dec. 7, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The annual holiday event is an opportunity for Kennedy employees and NASA retirees to exchange holiday greetings with center leaders and fellow support staff.

Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, left, and Deputy Director Janet Petro converse while participating in a virtual town hall at the Florida spaceport’s Press Site auditorium on June 10, 2020, to share the plan for employees to safely return to on-site work during the time of COVID-19. Also participating was Dr. David Tipton, chief medical officer, not pictured.

Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana participates in a virtual town hall at the Florida spaceport’s Press Site auditorium on June 10, 2020, to share the plan for employees to safely return to on-site work during the time of COVID-19. Also participating were Deputy Director Janet Petro and Dr. David Tipton, chief medical officer, not pictured.

Members of NASA Kennedy Space Center leadership hold a virtual town hall at the Florida spaceport’s Press Site auditorium on June 10, 2020, to share the plan for employees to safely return to on-site work during the time of COVID-19. From left to right are event moderator Marie Lewis of NASA Communications, Center Director Bob Cabana and Deputy Director Janet Petro. Also participating was Dr. David Tipton, chief medical officer, not pictured.

Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana participates in a virtual town hall at the Florida spaceport’s Press Site auditorium on June 10, 2020, to share the plan for employees to safely return to on-site work during the time of COVID-19. Also participating were Deputy Director Janet Petro and Dr. David Tipton, chief medical officer, not pictured.

Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana participates in a virtual town hall at the Florida spaceport’s Press Site auditorium on June 10, 2020, to share the plan for employees to safely return to on-site work during the time of COVID-19. Also participating were Deputy Director Janet Petro and Dr. David Tipton, chief medical officer, not pictured.

From left, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Kelvin Manning, Director Janet Petro, and Associate Director, Management Burt Summerfield participate in an employee Town Hall at the Florida spaceport on March 13, 2023. The senior leaders discussed key accomplishments and goals of the center, as well as answered questions from the Kennedy workforce.

From left, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Kelvin Manning, Director Janet Petro, and Associate Director, Management Burt Summerfield participate in an employee Town Hall at the Florida spaceport on March 13, 2023. The senior leaders discussed key accomplishments and goals of the center, as well as answered questions from the Kennedy workforce.

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro meets with Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler, Wednesday, April 16, 2025, during a visit to the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

The NASA Kennedy Space Center senior leaders and employees celebrated the center’s 60th anniversary with a “Cheers to 60 Years” cake and non-alcoholic toast in the Central Campus Headquarters on June 28, 2022. From left are Janet Sellars, director of Human Resources; Janet Petro, center director; Burt Summerfield, associate center director, management; Jennifer Kunz, associate center director, technical; and Tom Engler, director of Center Planning and Development. In July 1962, the Launch Operations Center in Florida was established. By December 1963, it was renamed the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

The NASA Kennedy Space Center senior leaders and employees celebrated the center’s 60th anniversary with a “Cheers to 60 Years” cake and non-alcoholic toast in the Central Campus Headquarters on June 28, 2022. From left, serving cake at the table, are Center Director Janet Petro; Janet Sellars, director of Human Resources; Kelvin Manning, deputy center director; and Nancy Bray, partially hidden, director of Spaceport Integration and Services. In July 1962, the Launch Operations Center in Florida was established. By December 1963, it was renamed the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

NASA Kennedy Space Center senior leaders helped celebrate the center’s 60th anniversary with a “Cheers to 60 Years” cake and non-alcoholic toast in the Central Campus Headquarters on June 28, 2022. Center Director Janet Petro hands a slice of cake to an employee. Also, from left are Nancy Bray, director of Spaceport Integration and Services; Kelvin Manning, deputy center director; and Hortense Blackwell, director of Communication and Public Engagement. In July 1962, the Launch Operations Center in Florida was established. By December 1963, it was renamed the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

NASA Kennedy Space Center's Deputy Director Janet Petro welcomes workers to the center's Women's History Month event, with the theme "Nevertheless She Persisted." Keynote speaker, JoAnn Morgan, former associate director of the center, spoke to the group about her experience as the first female engineer working in the space program in the 1960s. Morgan was the first female in the Launch Control Center firing room during the Apollo 11 launch. The event was hosted by the center's Kennedy Networking Opportunities for Women (KNOW) and Launching Leaders organizations. The purpose of KNOW is to provide focus on issues such as employment, retention, promotion, training, career and personal development, education, and identify and eliminate barriers that hinder the advancement of women in the workforce.

JoAnn Morgan, former associate director of Kennedy Space Center, at left, accepts a special coin from Janet Petro, deputy director of Kennedy, during a Women's History Month event at the center. With the theme "Nevertheless She Persisted," Morgan described her experience as the first female engineer working in the space program in the 1960s. Morgan was the first female in the Launch Control Center firing room during the Apollo 11 launch. The event was hosted by the center's Kennedy Networking Opportunities for Women (KNOW) and Launching Leaders organizations. The purpose of KNOW is to provide focus on issues such as employment, retention, promotion, training, career and personal development, education, and identify and eliminate barriers that hinder the advancement of women in the workforce.

NASA's Manager of Centennial Challenges Andy Petro speaks during the NASA New Space Technology Industry Forum being held at the University of Maryland in College Park on Tuesday, July 13, 2010. During the two-day event, speakers are focusing on the president's fiscal year 2011 budget request for NASA's new Space Technology Program. Representatives from industry, academia and the federal government are in attendance to discuss strategy, development and implementation of NASA's proposed new technology-enabled exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro (right) and Deputy Director Kelvin Manning (left) present a KSC Certificate of Appreciation to Rick Goltz at the center's 2022 KSC Honor Awards Ceremony inside the IMAX Theater at the Florida spaceport’s nearby Visitor Complex on June 13, 2023. Kennedy Space Center employees, award recipients, families, and friends attended the ceremony, which honored both civil servants and contractors for their contributions to NASA and Kennedy.

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro (right) and Deputy Director Kelvin Manning (left) present a KSC Certificate of Appreciation to Henrietta Hanner at the center's 2022 KSC Honor Awards Ceremony inside the IMAX Theater at the Florida spaceport’s nearby Visitor Complex on June 13, 2023. Kennedy Space Center employees, award recipients, families, and friends attended the ceremony, which honored both civil servants and contractors for their contributions to NASA and Kennedy.

NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro leads guests to a moment of silence at the Apollo 1 monument as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The monument honors and memorializes the Apollo 1 crew of Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA personnel watch as a wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknowns by NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, left, and NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron, as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Deputy Director Janet Petro welcomes guests and introduces KSC Director, Robert Cabana, Thursday, July 6, 2017, at the Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Vice President Mike Pence is also scheduled to speak at the event to highlight innovations made in America and tour some of the public/private partnership work that is helping to transform the center into a multi-user spaceport. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, and other guest, bow their heads during a ceremony as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

From left, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Kelvin Manning, Director Janet Petro, and Associate Director, Management Burt Summerfield participate in an employee Town Hall event at the Florida spaceport on March 13, 2023. The senior leaders discussed key accomplishments and goals of the center, as well as answered questions from the Kennedy workforce.

Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Janet Petro answers questions from the media during a press conference ahead of the launch of NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Perseverance rover is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the Red Planet. Launch is scheduled for Thursday, July 30. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro speaks to NASA personnel and others during a wreath laying ceremony as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro leads guests to a moment of silence at the Apollo 1 monument as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The monument honors and memorializes the Apollo 1 crew of Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA personnel watch as a wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknowns by NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, left, and NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron, as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro (right) and Deputy Director Kelvin Manning (left) present a KSC Certificate of Appreciation to Malcom Boston at the center's 2022 KSC Honor Awards Ceremony inside the IMAX Theater at the Florida spaceport’s nearby Visitor Complex on June 13, 2023. Kennedy Space Center employees, award recipients, families, and friends attended the ceremony, which honored both civil servants and contractors for their contributions to NASA and Kennedy.

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro speaks to the audience during the center's 2022 KSC Honor Awards Ceremony inside the IMAX Theater at the Florida spaceport’s nearby Visitor Complex on June 13, 2023. Kennedy employees, award recipients, families, and friends attended the ceremony, which honored both civil servants and contractors for their contributions to NASA and Kennedy.

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro, left, and Dwight Deneal, assistant administrator for NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs, right, speak with Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler, Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro, center, and Dwight Deneal, assistant administrator for NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs, left, speak with Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler, Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, left in red, and NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron, prepare to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Director of Kennedy Space Center, Janet Petro, speaks on a panel with NASA's three other female center directors: Dr. Marla Peréz-Davis of Glenn Research Center, Vanessa Wyche of Johnson Space Center, and Jody Singer of Marshall Space Flight Center, during the "DirectHERS" - Launching Through the Glass Ceiling event, Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron, left in blue, and NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, in red, watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA personnel watch as a wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknowns by NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, left, and NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron, as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Senior leaders at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida participate in a virtual town hall hosted at the NASA News Center auditorium on Feb. 17, 2021. From left to right are Kelvin Manning, associate director, technical; Bob Cabana, center director; Janet Petro, deputy director; and Burt Summerfield, associate director, management. The panel addressed a variety of topics and answered questions submitted by the Kennedy workforce.

NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron, left, and NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, place a wreath at the Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro listens as she visits with NASA Expedition 71 astronauts Tracy Dyson, right, Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with other senior leadership, meet, Monday, March 3, 2025, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Dominick, Epps, Barratt, and Dyson served as part of Expedition 71 aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, left, NASA Expedition 71 astronauts Tracy Dyson, Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, right, along with other senior leadership, meet, Monday, March 3, 2025, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Dominick, Epps, Barratt, and Dyson served as part of Expedition 71 aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens, left, acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro, NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes, acting NASA Associate Administrator Vanessa Wyche, and NASA Deputy Associate Administrator Casey Swails, right, are seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens, left, acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro, NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes, acting NASA Associate Administrator Vanessa Wyche, and NASA Deputy Associate Administrator Casey Swails, right, are seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens, left, acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro, NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes, acting NASA Associate Administrator Vanessa Wyche, and NASA Deputy Associate Administrator Casey Swails, right, are seen during a NASA town hall event, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA astronaut Don Pettit speaks with Trey Carlson, chief of staff for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, left, John McCullough, deputy associate administrator for integration in NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, and Janet Petro, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center during NASA’s Day on the Hill, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Noah Petro, Artemis III project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center moderates questions from the audience, Friday, May 19, 2023, during an employee engagement event at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will fly around the Moon on NASA’s Artemis II flight test, visited Washington to discuss their upcoming mission with members of Congress and others. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Janet Petro speaks to students during a Women in STEM mentoring breakfast inside the Debus Conference Center at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. STEM is science, technology, engineering and math. The special event gave students competing in NASA's 8th Annual Robotic Mining Competition the chance to learn from female NASA scientists, engineers and professionals about their careers and the paths they took to working at Kennedy. The Robotic Mining Competition is a NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate project designed to encourage students in STEM fields. The project provides a competitive environment to foster innovative ideas and solutions that could be used on NASA's Journey to Mars.

NASA's Manager of Centennial Challenges Andy Petro, right, listens as NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun answers a reporter's question during a press conference held at the NASA New Space Technology Industry Forum being held at the University of Maryland in College Park on Tuesday, July 13, 2010. During the two-day event, speakers are focusing on the president's fiscal year 2011 budget request for NASA's new Space Technology Program. Representatives from industry, academia and the federal government are in attendance to discuss strategy, development and implementation of NASA's proposed new technology-enabled exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun, center, listens as NASA's Manager of Centennial Challenges Andy Petro, right, answers a reporter's question during a press conference held at the NASA New Space Technology Industry Forum being held at the University of Maryland in College Park on Tuesday, July 13, 2010. During the two-day event, speakers are focusing on the president's fiscal year 2011 budget request for NASA's new Space Technology Program. Representatives from industry, academia and the federal government are in attendance to discuss strategy, development and implementation of NASA's proposed new technology-enabled exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Janet Petro speaks to students during a Women in STEM mentoring breakfast inside the Debus Conference Center at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. STEM is science, technology, engineering and math. The special event gave students competing in NASA's 8th Annual Robotic Mining Competition the chance to learn from female NASA scientists, engineers and professionals about their careers and the paths they took to working at Kennedy. The Robotic Mining Competition is a NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate project designed to encourage students in STEM fields. The project provides a competitive environment to foster innovative ideas and solutions that could be used on NASA's Journey to Mars.

Vendors at the CPD Innovation Expo Showcase with speaker Janet Petro.

Vendors at the CPD Innovation Expo Showcase with speaker Janet Petro.

Vendors at the CPD Innovation Expo Showcase with speaker Janet Petro.

Vendors at the CPD Innovation Expo Showcase with speaker Janet Petro.

Vendors at the CPD Innovation Expo Showcase with speaker Janet Petro.

Vendors at the CPD Innovation Expo Showcase with speaker Janet Petro.

Vendors at the CPD Innovation Expo Showcase with speaker Janet Petro.

NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, background, and NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron, place flowers at the Apollo 1 grave sites of Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, and Roger B. Chaffee as part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Kennedy Space Center employees attend a town hall discussion on Nov. 29, 2022, at the space center in Florida. Panelists included Janet Petro, director of the space center; NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy; NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana; Kurt Vogel, director of NASA Space Architectures; and Cathy Koerner, deputy associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development. Discussion centered around NASA’s Moon to Mars objectives, Kennedy’s role in deep space exploration, and the path forward in the coming months and years.