NASA has had a difficult early summer, between a proposed budget that would eviscerate the space agency’s science programs and President Trump’s sudden withdrawal of billionaire private space traveler Jared Isaacman from the nomination to be administrator of NASA.

Even so, there are signs that NASA’s fortunes may be looking up.

The space agency has a new administrator — sort of. As Ars Technica reports, Trump has appointed Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as interim NASA administrator, pending the nomination and confirmation of a permanent space agency head.

Duffy is said to have a “colorful background” since he was a cast member in a reality show called “Real World Boston.” But his four terms as a member of Congress constitute more relevant experience.

The careers of Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.), another former House member, and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), a former senator, demonstrate that political experience can be an advantage when dealing with Congress, which funds and sets the direction of NASA.

Duffy may be spread a little thin, having to run the Department of Transportation as well as NASA. It is also unclear what kind of power he will have to affect policy.

Duffy could confine himself to trying to enact the White House’s agenda,........

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