U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he plans to appoint James Bridenstine, a former Navy pilot and Republican congressman, to head the U.S. space agency NASA.

Mr. Bridenstine, 42, who backed Mr. Trump during the U.S. presidential campaign, had long been considered the favourite for the job of NASA administrator. But the nomination drew fire from two U.S. Senators from Florida.

Mr. Bridenstine, who was elected to Congress from Oklahoma in 2012, is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

According to the trade publication SpaceNews, Mr. Bridenstine has been a big proponent of giving the private sector a larger role in space.