Trump Inks Executive Order to Revive National Space Council

President Donald Trump signed Friday an executive order that seeks to relaunch the National Space Council that last operated in 1993 under President George H.W. Bush’s administration, Space News reported Friday.

Trump said in a speech at the White House that Vice President Mike Pence will chair the council that will serve as a “central hub guiding space policy within the administration.”

He added that the council will work to provide recommendations to the president and will be composed of representatives from various federal agencies, business leaders and scientists.

The executive order would create a “user’s advisory board” that will offer advice on space matters and ensure that commercial entities’ interests are represented in the council.

Officials who attended the signing ceremony include Pence, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, former NASA flight director Gene Kranz and astronauts Buzz Aldrin, David Wolf and Benjamin Drew.