Trump Revives the National Space Council

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has revived the National Space Council by signing a new executive order. This council was first established in 1958 during Dwight Eisenhower's presidency under the name "National Aeronautics and Space Council" with the aim of closely cooperating with the U.S. President to pursue policies and decisions related to space activities. According to the Washington Post, when the former Soviet Union sent Yuri Gagarin into space in 1961, then-President John F. Kennedy asked this council to provide him with a report on the status of America's space programs. Ultimately, the council proposed that sending humans to the Moon should be designated as a "national goal" for the United States. Following this suggestion, Kennedy famously stated, "We choose to go to the Moon by the end of this decade, not because it is easy, but because it is hard!" The National Space Council was established during George H.W. Bush's presidency in 1989 and continued its activities until 1993. Now, with Trump's new order, the council's activities are being resumed. Traditionally, the members of this council included the NASA Administrator, several cabinet ministers, and a few political officials and private sector representatives. At the signing ceremony of this executive order, attended by American astronauts and NASA executives, Trump stated, "Today we took a vital step to preserve America's future interests in space." According to Donald Trump, the revival of the National Space Council "shows the world that America is reclaiming its proud legacy of leadership in space." Trump emphasized that planning for space exploration not only strengthens Americans but also unites them towards a great objective. Mike Pence, the Vice President of the United States, will chair this council. The current members include the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Commerce, along with NASA administrators and other space agency officials.