Makenzie Lystrup has become the first woman to be appointed as director of the Goddard Space Flight Center in NASA's history. 

Before even starting her official duties, she also achieved another first by taking her oath of office on a copy of Carl Sagan's book Pale Blue Dot. 

Pale Blue Dot, published in 1994, was inspired by the famous photograph taken by the Voyager 1 space probe in 1990, which depicts Earth as a small blue dot in the vast expanse of space.
Sagan uses this image as a starting point to contemplate the fragility of our planet, the possibilities and limitations of space exploration, and the implications of our existence in the universe. With a mix of scientific knowledge and poetic prose, Pale Blue Dot invites readers to reflect on their relationship with the cosmos and to consider what it means to be human in the face of infinity.

The Goddard Space Flight Center is one of NASA's largest space centres, with a workforce of over 10,000 and a $4 billion portfolio. 

Lystrup's appointment was celebrated by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, saying; “Makenzie is a natural leader, bringing to Goddard a scientist's drive for discovery along with a wealth of industry experience and knowledge”. 

Prior to joining NASA, Lystrup served as vice president and general manager of civil space at Ball Aerospace, where she led the company's contributions to several missions, including the James Webb Space Telescope, Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), Landsat 9, and the Roman Space Telescope.

In a statement on her appointment, Lystrup said; “I'm humbled and honored to lead such an amazing and diverse world-renowned team. To build upon our legacy, I'm keenly focused on growing the next generation of innovators along with ensuring our team has the resources and tools to advance technologies and make new discoveries that boost the space economy and benefit us all.”

While religious texts such as the Bible are most often associated with US official swearing-in ceremonies, officials can use whatever text holds the most meaning to them. 

In 2022, Chicago Cook County board commissioner Anthony Joel Quezada also took his oath on Pale Blue Dot.