Vice President Kamala Harris appears alongside Goddard Center Director Dennis Andrucyk and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Nov. 5 at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo: NASA/Taylor Mickal

Vice President Kamala Harris made her first visit as vice president to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, on Friday, Nov. 5, meeting with scientists and engineers to discuss how NASA’s Earth science missions help address climate change. 

Harris also announced that the Biden administration’s first meeting of the National Space Council will be held on Dec. 1. Harris is chair of the council, which advises the president on space policy and strategy. In August, the White House announced that Chirag Parikh, senior director of Azure Space at Microsoft, will serve as the council’s executive secretary.

During her visit, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson unveiled the first images from Landsat 9, which was launched in September. These images will help monitor crop health and water used for irrigation, manage vital natural resources, and track the impacts of climate change.

“I truly believe space activity is climate action. Space activity is education. Space activity is also economic growth. It is also innovation and inspiration. And it is about our security and our strength,” Harris said Friday. “When it comes to our space activity, there is limitless potential.”