According to critics like Newt Gingrich and Scott Walker, Vice President Kamala Harris, who is in charge of the National Space Council, hasn’t done enough to bring American astronauts back to Earth. These critics argue current plans are too dependent on Russian cooperation, and as a result, American astronauts who should be back on Earth are instead in orbit on the International Space Station.
However, it’s important to note that it typically falls under NASA – not the vice president – to ensure successful space flights and safe returns to Earth for our astronauts. They are the governmental body responsible for the United States’ civil space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research.
The politics that come into play with global space missions tend to be complex and require coordination with multiple nations. In the past, working with Russia on space missions has been a way to foster cooperation and calm tensions. But given the current geopolitical tensions, Gingrich and Walker suggest America needs a more independent approach.
