Vice President Mike Pence got the internet’s attention Thursday after he was photographed touching a piece of critical space flight hardware clearly marked with a “do not touch” sign during a tour of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

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Pence was with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, and Kennedy Space Center director Bob Cabena when they spotted the hardware in the Orion spacecraft clean room. Pence is leading a newly revived National Space Council, according to The Associated Press.

The original photo was shot by Reuters photographer Mike Brown, according to Gizmodo. It inspired a flurry of memes from dumbfounded internet users.

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The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC