NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman: We’re Still Going To The Moon — And Beyond

Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead NASA and a friend to Elon Musk, has spoken before the Senate reiterating the agency’s plans to land humans on Mars. While the new government is shifting its attention to landing humans on Mars, its already established space exploration plans aren’t going under the bus.

Jared Isaacman Confirms NASA’s Dedication To Its Missions Despite New Mars Plans

As NASA prepares to shake up its affairs, a new administrator for the agency is needed, and the president has already given his nomination. On 4 December 2024, Jared Isaacman was announced as the presidential nominee to manage the agency’s affairs.

Isaacman has led two private astronaut flights to orbit, the Inspiration4 mission in 2021 and the Polaris Dawn mission in 2024. He also holds a record as the first private citizen to perform a spacewalk, on 12 September 2024 during the Polaris Dawn mission.

In an official statement, the NASA administrator nominee said, “We will reinvigorate a mission-first culture at NASA.” This will put special priority on the NASA mission to send human astronauts to Mars, with other missions still being of priority to the agency.

During his Senate hearing, Jared Isaacman testified that NASA isn’t abandoning its other missions in favour of Mars missions. Instead, the agency will treat other missions as stepping stones leading up to its Mars mission.

This hearing will help to provide some clarity into the plans and objectives of NASA over the coming years. At this hearing, President Trump’s NASA administrator nominee will also answer questions regarding the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

Isaacman has previously referred to this rocket project that NASA is pumping money into as “outrageously expensive.” This rocket will be in use on the Artemis II and III missions, the first of which will take a trip around the Moon and the second to land on the Moon.

Jared Isaacman’s Role With NASA

Jared Isaacman is currently a nominee to take over administrative control at NASA. Backing him are two influential people in American society, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

Despite not having a solid foundation in space affairs, Isaacman has embarked on two space missions, one of which he funded. He also refers to himself as a space enthusiast, as we see his interest in the space industry from his speeches and even his social media account.

Are these enough to make them fit to become the next administrator of NASA, or does he need more experience? The Senate proceedings will determine whether he will replace Janet Petro as the next NASA administrator.