Here's Mike Pence touching space flight hardware you're clearly not supposed to touch

Laura Vitto
Updated
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Vice President Mike Pence visited NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Thursday where he toured the facilities, addressed employees, and touched "critical space flight hardware" despite clear instructions not to.

Photos from Pence's tour of the facilities that house the Orion spacecraft show the VP placing his hand on a piece of hardware labeled with a sign that reads "DO NOT TOUCH" in bold, red letters. 

Mike, why? The sign's right there.

Vice President Mike Pence, right, gets a tour of the Orion clean room with Sen. Marco Rubio, left, by Bob Cabana, Director Kennedy Space Center, center, Thursday, July 6, 2017.
Vice President Mike Pence, right, gets a tour of the Orion clean room with Sen. Marco Rubio, left, by Bob Cabana, Director Kennedy Space Center, center, Thursday, July 6, 2017.

Image: TNS via Getty Images

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Naturally, VP's blatant disregard for laminated signs became the meme du jour and the inspiration for a Reddit Photoshop battle.

Image: Reddit, porkchopsandwhiches

Image: reddit, franticunravel

Image: reddit, epace

Image: reddit, lokibartleby

Update, Friday, July 7, 3:36 P.M. ET: On Friday, NASA issued a statement addressing the photo:

Update, Friday, July 7, 3:43 P.M. ET: Annnnnd, now VP's chiming in:

[H/T: Gizmodo]

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