Janet Petro
Janet Petro made history as the first woman to lead NASA, appointed as acting director by President Donald Trump on January 20. Born in Michigan in 1960, her passion for space was ignited by her father’s work with NASA, leading her to pursue a career in aerospace. After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in engineering, she served as a helicopter pilot and later transitioned to a managerial role in the private sector. In 2007, she became the deputy director of the Kennedy Space Center and was appointed as its first female director in 2021. Petro's appointment as NASA's acting director marked a significant milestone for women in leadership roles within the space agency.
Global Media Ratings
Countries Mentioned
| Country | Mentions | Sentiment | Dominance | + Persistence | x Population | = Reach | x GDP (millions) | = Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 | 5.00 | 0.04% | +10% | 331,002,651 | 160,965 | $21,000,000 | 10,212$ |
| Spain | 1 | 8.00 | 0.04% | +0% | 46,754,778 | 18,769 | $1,400,000 | 562$ |
| Egypt | 1 | 5.00 | 0.04% | +0% | 102,334,404 | 37,748 | $303,000 | 112$ |
| Totals | 4 | 480,091,833 | 217,482 | $22,703,000 | 10,886$ |
Interactive World Map
Each country's color is based on "Mentions" from the table above.
Recent Mentions
Egypt:
Janet Petro is the acting director of NASA who received an open letter from Democratic lawmakers regarding access issues.
5
United States:
The Trump administration has not yet released its budget request, and NASA has not revealed the contents of an agency reorganization plan that leadership — including acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro — hashed out alongside DOGE in March.
5
Spain:
Janet Petro is the acting administrator of NASA who congratulated the successful launch of the Fram2 mission.
8
United States:
Janet Petro is the Acting Administrator of NASA who outlined the agency's response to Trump's orders.
5
Egypt:
Janet Petro is noted as the acting administrator of NASA who communicated the changes in diversity programs to the staff.
6
Romania:
Janet Petro expressed excitement about the return of the astronauts after their mission.
9
United States:
NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro expressed excitement about the astronauts' return after their mission.
8
Bolivia:
Janet Petro is the acting administrator of NASA who commented on the recent crew's achievements.
9
Romania:
Janet Petro expressed excitement about the return of the astronauts after their months-long mission.
9
Slovenia:
Janet Petro is the acting administrator of NASA who highlighted the successful return of the astronauts.
8