First Billionaire in Space Named Trump's NASA Chief

6 hours ago 1

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen billionaire Jared Isaacman, a tech entrepreneur and ally of Elon Musk, as the next administrator of NASA.

Isaacman, 41, is the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments and a prominent figure in the private space sector due to his collaboration with Musk's SpaceX. He made history as the commander of Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital mission, and Polaris Dawn, which included the first private spacewalk.

"Jared will drive NASA's mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in space science, technology, and exploration," Trump said in a statement.

Isaacman expressed his gratitude for the nomination. "Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history," he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

A fighter jet pilot with the call sign "Rookie," Isaacman has described himself as a "space geek" since kindergarten. His nomination comes at a critical juncture for NASA, which is focused on its Artemis program to return humans to the Moon.

"We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars," Isaacman said in another X post, emphasizing the importance of maintaining U.S. leadership in space exploration.

NASA is relying on SpaceX's Starship—a mega-rocket currently in test phases in Texas—to land astronauts on the lunar surface. The agency already depends on Musk's company for astronaut transport to the International Space Station and cargo resupply missions.

"Jared's passion for space and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration make him uniquely suited for this role," said Musk in a congratulatory message. Musk has also served as a co-leader of Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency," an initiative aimed at reducing regulatory barriers.

Isaacman's collaboration with Musk dates back to 2021, when he chartered his first SpaceX flight, taking contest winners on the Inspiration4 mission. On his subsequent mission, Polaris Dawn, he conducted a spacewalk to test SpaceX's new spacewalking suits.

Isaacman's selection may reflect the influence of Trump supporter and SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Isaacman has praised Musk's government cost-cutting advisory group.

If confirmed, Isaacman will succeed Bill Nelson, 82, a former Democratic senator from Florida who was appointed by President Joe Biden. Nelson's tenure oversaw significant advancements in NASA's human spaceflight initiatives, particularly the Artemis program—named after Apollo's mythological twin sister—which aims to return humans to the Moon.

Plans are underway to send four astronauts on a lunar flyby as early as next year, followed by the first Moon landing in over half a century. However, Isaacman is expected to face challenges such as constrained budgets and competing priorities.

Under Nelson's leadership, the agency grappled with delays and escalating costs for missions such as the failed Boeing Crew Flight Test mission and Mars Sample Return program, now projected to cost $11 billion.

Read Entire Article