Recap of the vice president’s visit
2018-08-23
Vice President Mike Pence visited NASA’s Johnson Space Center on Thursday. Here’s what happened.
Vice President Mike Pence speaking in the Teague Auditorium. Credit: NASA/David DeHoyos.
Big Takeaways
Pence visited the Apollo Lunar Sample Collection
Vice President Mike Pence visiting with Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison "Jack" Schmitt in the Lunar Curation Laboratory. Credit: NASA/Allison Bills.
The Vice President visited the Lunar Curation Lab at Johnson to view the Apollo lunar samples. He learned about the ongoing research of the samples from Lunar Curator Ryan Zeigler and Apollo Astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt. Pence focused on the “Children of the World Rock,” which was collected by Schmitt and distributed to 135 nations across the world by President Nixon, and Sample 15014, which was collected during Apollo 15, and is one of nine “special samples” from the 2,196 samples collected during the Apollo missions. The sample’s canister was sealed on the moon and still has gasses from the moon captured inside. Sample 15014 will become available for research this year through the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis program, which allows modern science to provide a deeper understanding of the Moon and the solar system. The samples are curated and studied by the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science directorate at Johnson.
Pence observed astronaut training in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
Vice President Mike Pence meeting with astronaut candidates at the Sonny Carter Training Facility. Credit: NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.
Pence met with commercial crew astronaut Suni Williams at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab and toured the facility to see astronaut training firsthand. The Vice President spoke to commercial crew astronauts Victor Glover and Nicole Mann from the control room above the pool as they trained for future space missions to the International Space Station. Pence was also able to speak with the astronaut candidates he announced in 2017, as they served as safety divers for Glover and Mann in the pool.
What This All Means
NASA has the full support of the President and the National Space Council. Through partnerships with commercial providers, NASA is able to focus on going forward to the Moon, while maintaining a firm grasp on low-Earth orbit. The Vice President made it clear that there is a renewed national commitment to discovery and exploration and writing the next chapter of space exploration starts at the Johnson Space Center.
Noah Michelsohn
Johnson Space Center
Vice President Mike Pence speaking in the Teague Auditorium. Credit: NASA/David DeHoyos.
Big Takeaways
- NASA is going forward to the Moon.
- While speaking from the Teague Auditorium, Pence affirmed that NASA will build a sustainable presence in lunar orbit. “We will use ingenuity and creativity to establish a permanent presence around and on the Moon.”
- Johnson will continue to lead America in space.
- He made it clear that Johnson will continue to lead human space exploration. “The Johnson Space Center is a national treasure and all the men and women who work here are a national asset. The most important work and best days for Johnson Space Center are yet to come.”
- We are entering the dawn of a new age of human space exploration.
- Pence pointed to a new era of human exploration and encouraged all of NASA and the United States to embrace the journey. “As we write this new chapter of American exploration, I urge you to embrace new energy and opportunities and rededicate yourself to the mission of NASA.”
Pence visited the Apollo Lunar Sample Collection
Vice President Mike Pence visiting with Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison "Jack" Schmitt in the Lunar Curation Laboratory. Credit: NASA/Allison Bills.
The Vice President visited the Lunar Curation Lab at Johnson to view the Apollo lunar samples. He learned about the ongoing research of the samples from Lunar Curator Ryan Zeigler and Apollo Astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt. Pence focused on the “Children of the World Rock,” which was collected by Schmitt and distributed to 135 nations across the world by President Nixon, and Sample 15014, which was collected during Apollo 15, and is one of nine “special samples” from the 2,196 samples collected during the Apollo missions. The sample’s canister was sealed on the moon and still has gasses from the moon captured inside. Sample 15014 will become available for research this year through the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis program, which allows modern science to provide a deeper understanding of the Moon and the solar system. The samples are curated and studied by the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science directorate at Johnson.
Pence observed astronaut training in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
Vice President Mike Pence meeting with astronaut candidates at the Sonny Carter Training Facility. Credit: NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.
Pence met with commercial crew astronaut Suni Williams at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab and toured the facility to see astronaut training firsthand. The Vice President spoke to commercial crew astronauts Victor Glover and Nicole Mann from the control room above the pool as they trained for future space missions to the International Space Station. Pence was also able to speak with the astronaut candidates he announced in 2017, as they served as safety divers for Glover and Mann in the pool.
What This All Means
NASA has the full support of the President and the National Space Council. Through partnerships with commercial providers, NASA is able to focus on going forward to the Moon, while maintaining a firm grasp on low-Earth orbit. The Vice President made it clear that there is a renewed national commitment to discovery and exploration and writing the next chapter of space exploration starts at the Johnson Space Center.
Noah Michelsohn
Johnson Space Center