Innovation a Priority for New NASA Science Chief
WASHINGTON — The new head of NASA's science directorate says he wants to incorporate more innovation into its various missions, but acknowledges that there are limited opportunities to do so in the near future with current missions.
In an Oct. 31 roundtable with reporters at NASA Headquarters, Thomas Zurbuchen, named the agency's associate administrator for science Sept. 27, said he would seek opportunities to incorporate so-called "disruptive" technologies, like small satellites, into the agency's portfolio of science missions, while making sure it successfully carried out larger missions.
Zurbuchen came from the University of Michigan, where he worked on instruments for several space science missions. He also a professor of aerospace engineering there and did research on innovation, a topic he addressed in a discussion about his plans and priorities. [Watch: Satellites You Can Hold in Your Hand Spur Innovation]