File picture shows Space Shuttle Discovery commander Charles Bolden (R) in January, 1994, accompanied by Russian mission specialist Sergei Krikalev. President Barack Obama will name Bolden as NASA administrator, The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

US President Barack Obama will name black former astronaut Charles Bolden as NASA administrator, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Citing three unnamed congressional sources, the newspaper said that if confirmed by the Senate, the retired Marine Corps general would be the first African American to head the agency.

The announcement will be timed to the landing of the shuttle Atlantis, which remained in orbit Friday because of bad weather but will return to Earth on Saturday or Sunday, the report said.

The sources were called Friday and briefed on the selection by the White House, the paper said

The president will also announce that his campaign space advisor, Lori Garver, will be Bolden's deputy, The Times reported.

(c) 2009 AFP