NASA is losing its most senior power couple — a symbol of the poor outlook for the agency. Laurie Leshin, the top scientist in NASA’s exploration division, and her husband, Jon Morse, the head of astrophysics in the science division, are leaving NASA and heading to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York to take on senior academic posts.

Morse, who has overseen the astrophysics division through its toughest times, will become RPI’s associate vice-president for research, the university announced today. Leshin will become the new dean of the school of science. Both will start at the beginning of October.