Vice President Mike Pence has said the Trump administration seeks to redirect NASA‘s focus toward human space exploration, including flights to the moon and Mars, Space News reported Thursday.
Pence said in a speech at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center that the revival of the National Space Council will help U.S. regain leadership in space.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to relaunch the National Space Council, which last operated in 1993 under the administration of George H.W. Bush.
Pence noted he will host the council’s first meeting before the end of summer, according to the report.
He added that the council will assess current space policies and long-term goals for national space projects and advise the president on such matters.
Pence said the government also aims to foster increased partnerships between agencies and the commercial space industry.
