CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence and his new space advisory council want U.S. private companies moving faster and farther into the cosmos, with the government easing restrictions on these 21st century pioneers.

The U.S. will get left behind, the National Space Council was warned Wednesday, if it doesn't make it easier for companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin to set up shop in orbit around Earth and aim for the moon, Mars and beyond.

"Somewhere out there in space, is a bright red Roadster going thousands of miles per hour, the fastest car in history. We had better keep up...