BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Vice President Mike Pence announced Wednesday that Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station have been designated as Space Force bases during a visit to the Kennedy Space Center.
They will now be known as Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Read: NASA outlines priorities for upcoming mission to Moon
Patrick Space Force Base is one of six locations named as a finalist for the U.S. Space Command headquarters. A final decision is expected early next year.
President Donald Trump formed the United States Space Force as a sixth branch of the military last December.
It is part of the human spirit to explore.
— Moonbound with #Artemis (@NASA) December 9, 2020
Today, we’d like to introduce you to our @NASAArtemis team — the initial team of @NASA_Astronauts who will help pave the way for our next human missions on and around the Moon: https://t.co/AiXfUyP6zl pic.twitter.com/LMJ0nNlE2N
Pence met with the National Space Council on Wednesday to discuss the Artemis Program, which seeks to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024.
During the meeting, he revealed the pool of 18 astronauts who have been selected for the program’s future lunar missions.
Read: First woman, next man on moon will come from these NASA 18
“I just want to assure all of you (who) will be carrying America’s aspirations and ideals into the great unknown that you go with the confidence of the American people,” Pence said. “You will have the support of people all across this country as you inspire the world.”
WATCH: Historic crewed mission successfully blasts off from Kennedy Space Center
We're at the The Apollo/Saturn V Center @NASAKennedy awaiting the arrival of @VP Mike Pence who'll chair the 8th meeting of the National Space Council. The Vice President will also deliver remarks on NASA’s Artemis program. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/VBM3FuMNMt
— Melonie Holt (@MHoltWFTV) December 9, 2020
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