Remarks by the Vice President at a Meet-and-Greet with NASA Employees

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you for the warm welcome. Thank you all for making time out a busy day at a busy time in the life of this agency. It is great to be back at the headquarters of NASA at the dawn of a new era of American leadership in space, and you all are making that happen. (Applause.)

And I want to bring greetings from another great champion of NASA and a great champion of going farther, faster, higher, in every aspect of American leadership. Let me bring greetings and thanks from the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. (Applause.)

I'll never forget, Jim, we were actually on the campaign trail when, then, the candidate who had just added me to the ticket in our campaign said to me -- when I was making a visit to Florida, he said, "I want to restart the National Space Council. I want to you to go the Space Coast and give a speech about it." And he said, "Would you be interested in chairing the National Space Council?" And I said, "Would I ever." (Laughter and applause.)

It's been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your Vice President, but what a profound privilege it is to serve alongside a President, to serve in an administration that is rededicating -- now, here, a half a century later, when America was astounding the world with our leadership in space -- an administration, a President that is rededicating ourselves to American leadership in space and American human space exploration.

I do want to give some credit where credit is due. First and foremost, to all of you, congratulations on that recent distinction. And I know you join me thanking Jim Bridenstine for stepping forward to serve -- to lead this agency at such a critical time. Jim, you're doing a great job and we're proud of you. (Applause.)

ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I have to tell you, there was a great moment the day that Jim -- the day that Jim was sworn into this position. He brought his family by for a photo opp. Maybe you've heard that story. He brought them by the Oval Office and he had Michelle with him, and he had three little kids with him. And it was supposed to be about a five-minute deal, but that was before he realized how interested President Trump is in space. (Laughter.)

And I'll never forget, about 45 minutes into the meeting -- (laughs) -- as Jim and the President were going back and forth about the President's passion and vision, his three kids were sitting in those chairs in the Oval Office with their legs swinging underneath the chairs. I think, Jim, you got a real good feeling --

ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: They loved it.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- for the passion this President has from the Oval Office, all across this government.

And we're so grateful to each and every one of you.

I said it's a new era of America leadership in space, but I'll tell you what, it's amazing to think of just recent accomplishments. Last week, you reached numerous milestones, beginning with the successful arrival of the OSIRIS-REx satellite at the asteroid, Bennu. Give yourselves a round of applause for that. (Applause.) We also saw the start of Expedition 58. American astronaut Anne McClain and the crew flew safely to the International Space Station, and we're proud of her. (Applause.)

We're all relieved. I know we breathed a sigh of relief when Nick Hague -- Nick Hague and Christina Hammock Koch returned safely from the aborted launch. But I'm very pleased, because I've been bothering Jim about it, to hear that Nick and Christina will be headed back to space this February and the mission goes on. (Applause.) You'll give them our best.

ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: You bet.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And of course, last month the world -- the world watched as NASA did the impossible again when the InSight lander touched down on Mars. And America is still the only nation on Earth to safely land on Mars. Congratulations, NASA. What a great day. (Applause.)

I met today with the senior leadership here at NASA. We talked about the progress we've been making since Space Policy Directive-1 was signed. And the President and I are truly grateful for the renewed energy that all of you have brought to this task in implementing this renewed commitment to American leadership in space and human space exploration to return to the moon, and then to Mars.

And I want to make you a promise that we are going to work on behalf of each and every one of you to make sure that you have the resources here that will enable the completion of the Orion space capsule and the Space Launch System. This year was a year to build. Next year will be a year to fly. (Applause.)

We're going to make sure you get all the support you need. But, frankly, I -- you know, I'm sure, when you're out and about, or you're traveling around the country, or over the holidays when you're visiting with family and people meet you that don't know you and find out you work at NASA -- you know how cool Americans think that is. (Laughter.) Am I right?

And I got to tell you, I really do believe -- the President does as well -- that all the support is still there. And we really look forward to next year. In fact, I'll be at Kennedy Space Center next Tuesday. We just announced this morning, I'll be headed to Kennedy Space Center to watch the launch of the first GPS III satellite.

But next year is going to be a very busy year. I just encourage each and every one of you to keep your head down, keep working hard, but get used to the pace, okay? Because we're absolutely determined to once again lead the world back into the exploration of space. And it'll all be driven out of here; it'll all be driven on the basis of the 18,000 NASA personnel that all of you oversee all across this country and around the world. It'll be driven by innovators. It'll be driven by our courageous astronauts and our private sector partners.

But I just want to encourage you on -- encourage you to bring your best efforts in the days ahead. But also, I hope you'll also bring the idealism that first sent America into the vast beyond. I think of another President who said we do not do this because it is easy; we do it because it is hard. And America is willing to do the hard thing, willing to lead.

And I want to assure you: This administration, from the President on down, wants to start leading in space once again. And we're looking to all of you to make that happen.

But I hope, as we approach this very special season -- my Jewish friends just completed eight days of Hanukkah, and I better start shopping pretty soon -- (laughter) -- for Christmas. All of our kids will be joining us at the Vice President's Residence.

I also think about -- I think about an anniversary that we're celebrating this month as well. And make no mistake about it: Those words that the astronauts of Apollo 8 read, seeing that first Earthrise from the horizon of the moon also animate the American people's passion to explore the great beyond.

Because, as has been the tradition throughout our country -- and tens of millions cherish this today, as my family does, those words that were spoken then are worth repeating today, that the crew said, we're "Now approaching lunar sunrise. For all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you." And it's a great message to remember in this special season that "In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth. And the Earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light.' And there was light."

As you do your work in the days ahead, as you re-fire the work of NASA and renew American leadership in space, I want you to do it with ingenuity, with professionalism, with energy. But know that you also carry the faith and the aspiration of the American people who see His hand in the vast beyond, and long to understand it better.

So thank you very much. (Applause.) God bless you. And God bless the work of NASA. Go NASA! (Applause.)