Dr Griffin, a rocket scientist and entrepreneur, current director of space at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) was nominated by the current President Bush to head the space agency and
carry out the administration’s Vision for Space Exploration.

"[Dr Griffin] has the right combination of experience in industry, academia and government service," said Senator Barbara Mikulski from the Senate Appropriations Committee. "He has a proven record of leadership
and a passion for science and exploration. I welcome his nomination…Dr Griffin has long been a resource to the Science Committee, both as a public witness and in providing private counsel. He has broad expertise,
knows Nasa inside and out, and is an imaginative and creative thinker and leader…He is also known for his candour and directness. We look very forward to working with Dr Griffin at this critical time for Nasa."

The urgent tasks for the new NASA administration is to returnthe space shuttle to flight (and the eventual replacement of the launch vehicle) and the controversial de-orbiting of the Hubble Space Telescope.