🔗 Share this article Billionaire Jared Isaacman Confirmed as Nasa Chief After Turbulent Nomination Image Credit: Getty Images Billionaire investor Jared Isaacman has been confirmed as the new administrator of NASA, ending an atypical nomination process where the President put his name forward, pulled the nomination, and then renominated him. Isaacman, an aviation enthusiast who was the first non-professional astronaut to undertake a spacewalk, is also the first NASA administrator in many years to come straight from outside public service. For numerous observers, the ultimate measure of his time in office will be determined by one pivotal challenge: if NASA can return humans to the lunar surface before China. The President has emphasized a desire for the America to build a sustained presence on the moon, both to allow for resource extraction and to act as a staging point for missions to Mars. Legislative Approval and Background On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate approved the nomination with a bipartisan vote. The President first withdrew Isaacman's nomination in May, referencing a "deep dive of prior associations". At the time, the president was publicly feuding with the SpaceX CEO, one of his major contributors, with whom the nominee has professional ties. Isaacman indicates he is now completely supportive of the administration's goal to extract lunar resources, creating a divergence from Elon Musk, who has argued that focus on the moon is a detour from the primary objective of travelling to Mars. Future Direction In the ongoing global space race, countries are competing to utilize the Moon. “This is not the time for hesitation but a time for decisive steps because if we lose ground, if we err, we may not recover, and the implications could change the balance of power here on our planet,” Isaacman told US Senators recently. The business leader sees fostering more industry players as crucial for accomplishing those goals, according to a circulated paper outlining his strategy for NASA. In his testimony, he supported the blueprint, which he developed when he was first nominated, but said it was a evolving strategy. His support for rivalry could also lead to tension with SpaceX. Recently, Isaacman praised the issuance of a major contract to Blue Origin, which is one of the main challengers of Musk's SpaceX. In the leaked plan, he proposed NASA should forge stronger ties with universities and academic institutions, casting the agency as a "amplifier for scientific discovery". He pointed to the planned 2027 launch of the Roman Space Telescope as a cornerstone project. "And if we be close to something groundbreaking - like deploying the Roman Telescope - I will consider all avenues to get the program to the pad, even providing personal financing if that's what it requires to deliver the science," he stated. Personal Fortune According to estimates, Isaacman's net worth is estimated at approximately $1.2bn, accumulated through his payment processing company and the sale of his company that trained pilots and managed a private fleet of military jets. The position of agency chief will be his maiden role in politics, a contrast to the previous two appointees appointed as NASA chief. He will take over from the former transportation secretary, who has been the acting administrator since the summer.
Image Credit: Getty Images Billionaire investor Jared Isaacman has been confirmed as the new administrator of NASA, ending an atypical nomination process where the President put his name forward, pulled the nomination, and then renominated him. Isaacman, an aviation enthusiast who was the first non-professional astronaut to undertake a spacewalk, is also the first NASA administrator in many years to come straight from outside public service. For numerous observers, the ultimate measure of his time in office will be determined by one pivotal challenge: if NASA can return humans to the lunar surface before China. The President has emphasized a desire for the America to build a sustained presence on the moon, both to allow for resource extraction and to act as a staging point for missions to Mars. Legislative Approval and Background On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate approved the nomination with a bipartisan vote. The President first withdrew Isaacman's nomination in May, referencing a "deep dive of prior associations". At the time, the president was publicly feuding with the SpaceX CEO, one of his major contributors, with whom the nominee has professional ties. Isaacman indicates he is now completely supportive of the administration's goal to extract lunar resources, creating a divergence from Elon Musk, who has argued that focus on the moon is a detour from the primary objective of travelling to Mars. Future Direction In the ongoing global space race, countries are competing to utilize the Moon. “This is not the time for hesitation but a time for decisive steps because if we lose ground, if we err, we may not recover, and the implications could change the balance of power here on our planet,” Isaacman told US Senators recently. The business leader sees fostering more industry players as crucial for accomplishing those goals, according to a circulated paper outlining his strategy for NASA. In his testimony, he supported the blueprint, which he developed when he was first nominated, but said it was a evolving strategy. His support for rivalry could also lead to tension with SpaceX. Recently, Isaacman praised the issuance of a major contract to Blue Origin, which is one of the main challengers of Musk's SpaceX. In the leaked plan, he proposed NASA should forge stronger ties with universities and academic institutions, casting the agency as a "amplifier for scientific discovery". He pointed to the planned 2027 launch of the Roman Space Telescope as a cornerstone project. "And if we be close to something groundbreaking - like deploying the Roman Telescope - I will consider all avenues to get the program to the pad, even providing personal financing if that's what it requires to deliver the science," he stated. Personal Fortune According to estimates, Isaacman's net worth is estimated at approximately $1.2bn, accumulated through his payment processing company and the sale of his company that trained pilots and managed a private fleet of military jets. The position of agency chief will be his maiden role in politics, a contrast to the previous two appointees appointed as NASA chief. He will take over from the former transportation secretary, who has been the acting administrator since the summer.