Immediately after being sworn into office Monday by Vice President Mike Pence, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine took a call from the three U.S. astronauts at the International Space Station who offered "hearty congratulations." The Oklahoma congressman became the 13th administrator of NASA, filling a position that had been vacant for more than a year. Bridenstine is the first elected official to lead NASA, something that had bogged down his nomination last year by President Donald Trump. "NASA will lead the way," said Pence, who heads the newly resurrected National Space Council. Charles Bolden Jr., a former space shuttle commander and major general in the Marines, was NASA's last official administrator.

Source: ABC News April 23, 2018 20:03 UTC