NASA's first female Goddard Space Flight Center director swears oath on Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, left, swears in Makenzie Lystrup as director of Goddard Space Flight Center, as NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy looks on. (NASA: Keegan Barber)

NASA's newly appointed director of the Goddard Space Flight Center has claimed two firsts before even starting her official duties.

On Thursday, Makenzie Lystrup became the first woman in NASA's history to be appointed the director of the Goddard Space Flight Center.