Janet Petro retires as NASA Kennedy Space Center director
Updated
Updated · Florida Today · May 1
Janet Petro retires as NASA Kennedy Space Center director
8 articles · Updated · Florida Today · May 1
NASA said her retirement takes effect Friday, May 1, with former deputy director Kelvin Manning becoming acting chief after Artemis II's April 1-10 lunar flyby mission.
Petro, appointed director in 2021, was the center's first woman leader and helped turn Kennedy into a multiuser spaceport while playing a central role in Artemis.
The change comes as NASA rides renewed attention after Artemis II; Kennedy has already received the Space Launch System core stage for Artemis III, still targeted for launch next year.
How will Kelvin Manning's leadership shape KSC's future as commercial launches skyrocket and Artemis ambitions grow?
With Artemis III now just an Earth-orbit test, what new hurdles must NASA overcome before returning humans to the Moon?
What critical lessons from Artemis II's deep space health research could transform future Moon and Mars missions?
Janet Petro’s Historic Retirement and Kelvin Manning’s Strategic Role in Preparing Kennedy Space Center for Artemis III
Overview
On May 1, 2026, Janet Petro retired as NASA Kennedy Space Center Director, shortly after the successful Artemis II mission she helped lead. Petro, the first woman to direct KSC since 2021, transformed the center into a multiuser spaceport, balancing government and commercial space efforts. Her retirement led to Kelvin Manning, a seasoned leader with prior acting director experience, stepping in as acting director to ensure smooth continuity. Manning now faces the challenge of preparing KSC for the Artemis III mission in 2027, a critical low Earth orbit demonstration that will test new systems and commercial lunar landers, continuing the center's vital role in advancing human space exploration.