U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris advised NASA astronauts at the moment (Sept. 9) that she’s dedicated to fostering teamwork together with her fellow “space nerds” each on Earth and in orbit.
In a quick name to the International Space Station (ISS) this morning, Harris, who additionally chairs the Nationwide House Council, spoke in regards to the significance of defending Earth and becoming a member of forces to fulfill different space targets.
“Inform us what you’re studying on the space station that’s serving to us be smarter round how we handle Earth,” Harris mentioned to Expedition 67 astronauts Jessica Watkins, Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hinds. Harris spoke from Mission Management at NASA’s Johnson House Heart (JSC) in Houston throughout a tour.
Associated: Presidential visions for space exploration: From Ike to Biden
Watkins mentioned the astronauts are studying a lot of issues on the ISS. Examples embrace, she mentioned, methods to “develop vegetation with out soil, and with the ability to use that again on Earth to assist with meals safety.” Watkins additionally cited analysis about cell growing old, which may assist researchers “take into consideration how we may help with immune cell growing old again on Earth.”
Scheduling constraints and satellite connections lower the scheduled name slightly brief, however Harris will probably be on the space beat all through at the moment: She’s going to chair her second National Space Council meeting, which is scheduled to start at 2:20 p.m. EDT (1820 GMT), in accordance with the vice president’s schedule (opens in new tab). You possibly can watch it reside right here at House.com.
On the assembly, which is able to happen at JSC, Harris is predicted to reaffirm the NASA ISS extension to 2030, to offer extra particulars on new guidelines for industrial space actions, and to announce new regional coaching pilot packages by space firms together with Blue Origin, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, in accordance with data supplied by the White Home on background.Â
The Nationwide House Council, which helps form American space coverage, has already set out some priorities for the administration of President Joe Biden. The primary assembly, which occurred final December, noticed Harris focus on addressing local weather change with satellites and scrutinizing the space junk challenge. And this yr she has begun speaking in regards to the company’s Artemis program, which is targeted on placing boots on the moon within the 2020s.
Harris additionally will launch an Interagency Roadmap (opens in new tab) at the moment centered on science, expertise, engineering and arithmetic (STEM), in an effort to spice up and diversify the nation’s space workforce, the White Home acknowledged.
The vp has been busy on the space scene in latest weeks. She flew right down to Florida’s House Coast for the deliberate Aug. 29 launch of NASA’s Artemis 1 mission to the moon, which was scrubbed because of a technical challenge. (The subsequent alternative is not any prior to Sept. 23).
Whereas in Florida, Harris toured NASA’s Kennedy House Heart to view Artemis {hardware}, and at the moment her agenda features a tour of  JSC. Her go to will give attention to the House Car Mockup Facility, the place crews and assist personnel alike practice for missions, NASA stated (opens in new tab).
Observe Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace (opens in new tab). Observe us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or Facebook (opens in new tab).
