NASA Goddard’s New Chief Expains Why She Took on Oath on Carl Sagan's 'Pale Blue Dot' Over Bible, Other Texts

An esteemed official of NASA has now taken on the role of new director of the Goddard Space Flight Center. Interestingly, she had an unusual way of taking her oath.

Why NASA Goddard's New Director Swore on 'Pale Blue Dot'

According to The Independent, Dr. Makenzie Lystrup is the first woman in the history of NASA to be the chief of the Goddard Space Center. During her oath-taking on Thursday, she swore on the 1994 book of Carl Sagan, "Pale Blue Dot," rather than conventionally using the Bible.

The book "Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space" is a book that Carl Sagan wrote way back in 1994. According to Gizmodo, this book is named after an iconic snap of the earth that was captured by the Voyage I probe. It portrays the life-filled planet as a small dot that is surrounded by the vast cosmos. As per ABC News, Sagan capitalized on this vital photograph to illustrate the place of humanity across the solar system and to note the direction of humanity.

Moreover, due to his early contributions to the field of space exploration, Sagan is quite revered in the astronomical community. Dr. Lystrup notes that Sagan worked hard to make science both meaningful and accessible for all. His book "Pale Blue Dot" stresses how important it is to look into the cosmos and know more about the Earth.

For several individuals, this book is a reminder of the place of humans across the universe and the dire need to exert efforts for the planet's preservation. Because of this, it may seem like a holy and reverend text to a newly appointed chief at NASA.

As per Gizmodo, Dr. Lystrup explains that, considering the book's personal significance to her and how its message aligns with NASA Goddard's efforts, she notes how it "felt apropos" to use it during the ceremony.

In the past, several officeholders took their oath on texts, like the US Constitution, books by Dr. Seuss, and the Quran. However, according to Futurism, this is the first time someone has taken an oath based on Sagan's writings.

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NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is one of the agency's biggest centers. According to ABC News, its workforce exceeds 10,000 individuals, while its portfolio is worth a whopping $4 billion.

Bill Nelson, the NASA Administrator, notes how Dr. Lystrup is a national leader. She offers the center the drive for discovery alongside great knowledge and experience. Nelson says that, under Dr. Lystrup's leadership, the Goddard team will keep on innovating, inspiring, and exploring the mysteries of the cosmos.

Before she joined NASA, Dr. Lystrup served as the vice president and general manager of civil space at Ball Aerospace. During this time, she contributed to several missions, including the James Webb Space Telescope, Landsat 9, the Roman Space Telescope, and the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE).

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