Harris to spearhead National Space Council

The White House announced Saturday that Vice President Harris will chair the National Space Council (NSC), a space policy group that was revived by the Trump administration.

Harris as the group’s leader will focus on a slate of policies, including sustainable space travel and peaceful relations between countries in space. 

“As I’ve said before: In America, when we shoot for the moon, we plant our flag on it. I am honored to lead our National Space Council,” Harris tweeted of her appointment. 

As I’ve said before: In America, when we shoot for the moon, we plant our flag on it. I am honored to lead our National Space Council.

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 1, 2021

The NSC was created in 1989 under former President George H.W. Bush to oversee space policy. It was disbanded in 1993 before former President Trump resurrected it in 2017 under the leadership of former Vice President Mike Pence, who called on U.S. astronauts to return to the moon by 2024. 

The NSC will help bring NASA and other government agencies to form policies for the federal government over the civil, commercial and military presences in space. 

It’s unclear what specific policies the NSC will pursue under Harris, but the administration has thus far supported Trump-era policies, including backing the Space Force and NASA’s Artemis mission to send people to the moon as it lays plans for manned trips to Mars.