Ivanka, who visited the space centre on Thursday where human spaceflight training, research, and flight control are conducted, spoke to the crew of the International Space Station.

"You inspire us all. You actually have my dream job," Ivanka, 36, admitted.

‘I always wanted to be an astronaut and I always wanted to go to space. You are fulfilling my dream up there," she said.

Astronaut Nicole Mann provided Ivanka with a guided tour of the space center, including the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility that holds a full-size copy of the International Space Station.

Ivanka posed outside the doors of the Mission Control Center and met chief Holly Ridings, who made history this week after becoming the first woman in NASA’s 60-year history to become the chief flight director of the Johnson Space Center.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also was with Ivanka, along with US Senator Ted Cruz and US Rep Brian Babin, both Republicans from Texas, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Ivanka toured mock-ups of the station and of the Orion spacecraft which is being built to take astronauts back to the moon for the first time in 50 years, the report said.

She also spoke with students from Clear Creek Independent School District who, with the help of NASA engineers, are participating in an international robotics competition called FIRST Robotics, said the report.

Her visit to the center came during a stop of her campaign tour of Texas for Republican candidates in the November 6 midterm elections.

The White House said her appearance was intended to draw attention to students learning about science and technology.