NASA chief to step down on Nov. 17

AP Science WriterWASHINGTON (AP) -- Daniel S. Goldin, who is the longest-served head of the nation's space agency, is leaving NASA on Nov. 17, according to sources close to the administrator's office and in Congress.

Goldin, 61, was appointed in 1992 and has supervised major changes in the space agency, including the launch and construction of the International Space Station.

NASA employees were alerted to watch a television speech in which Goldin was expected to announce his resignation.

No replacement has been named, but Goldin is expected to help the Bush administration select an interim acting administrator.

The office of Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Ala., confirmed Goldin would announce his retirement during a conference Wednesday afternoon.

Goldin was appointed head of the space agency by the first President Bush and was retained throughout the eight years of the Clinton administration. There had been rumors that he would step down this year, but those were not confirmed until Wednesday.

He is expected to accept a position on the Council on Competitiveness after leaving NASA.

During his tenure, Goldin originated a new way of constructing and launching space missions, a philosophy he called "faster, better, cheaper."

Working with reduced budgets, NASA still managed under Goldin to launch a major effort to explore Mars, redesign and begin construction on the International Space Station and to reduce the cost of operating the Space Shuttle.

In addition, Goldin guided an increased emphasis in the NASA budget on scientific research and started a program that covers studies of astrobiology, which includes the search for life-harboring planets beyond the solar system.