A new NASA directorate will focus on both the International Space Station and human exploration beyond low earth orbit, the agency announced Friday
The Human Exploration and Operations Mission directorate combines the Space Operations and Human Exploration directorates.
NASA said the new directorate has already begun supporting space station operations. The directorate will manage construction of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, a spacecraft designed to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
âBy combining the resources of Space Operations and Exploration Systems and creating the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, we are recommitting ourselves to American leadership in space for years to come,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said.
Bill Gerstenmaier will head the new organization. He previously served as the associate administrator for Space Operations.