WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- NASA's first black shuttle commander Frederick Gregory will become the space agency's acting chief to succeed Administrator Sean O'Keef whose resignation became official this week, local media reported on Thursday.

NASA's first black shuttle commander Frederick Gregory will become the space agency's acting chief to succeed Administrator Sean O'Keef whose resignation became official this week, local media reported on Thursday. (NASA/file)

    Gregory, 64, who flew three times in space, has served as NASA's deputy administrator since 2002.

    The White House has yet to name a permanent successor of O'Keef, who announced his resignation in December for chancellorship at Louisiana State University.

    Immediately ahead of Gregory, the first black to head NASA, is to complete the remaining work in returning NASA's shuttle fleet to space, in May or June as planned. The space shuttles have been grounded since the Columbia breakup disaster in 2001, in which seven astronauts were killed.

    O'Keef, a former budget official and longtime government employee, had led NASA for three years. He was recently criticized for his decision against upgrading and repairing the aging Hubble Space Telescope. Enditem