5.12.2024
Incoming President Donald Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman, who led and financed SpaceX's Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn private-astronaut missions, to become the next NASA administrator.
Trump announced Isaacman's nomination in a Wednesday morning Truth Social post.
"Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration," Trump said.
"Over the past 25 years, as the Founder and CEO of Shift4, Jared has demonstrated exceptional leadership, building a trailblazing global financial technology company. He also co-founded and served as CEO of Draken International, a defense aerospace company, for over a decade, supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, and our Allies," he said.
Isaacman would replace Bill Nelson, who grew up on the Space Coast and graduated from Melbourne High. Nelson has served as NASA administrator since April 2021. Outgoing President Joe Biden nominated Nelson — a Florida former U.S. senator who served as payload specialist on space shuttle Columbia during the STS-61 mission — for the job.
In a Wednesday morning tweet, Isaacman said he was honored to receive Trump's nomination. On Sept. 10, he and three fellow private astronauts launched inside a Dragon spacecraft from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on the Polaris Dawn mission — which featured the first spacewalk performed by commercial astronauts.
Isaacman developed the Polaris Dawn and September 2021 Inspiration4 mission — the first orbital spaceflight featuring an all-civilian astronaut crew — in tandem with SpaceX. Elon Musk, the company's founder, publicly supported Trump's presidential campaign. And Trump has tabbed Musk to co-lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory group tasked with slashing government spending.
"Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history. On my last mission to space, my crew and I traveled farther from Earth than anyone in over half a century," Isaacman said in a Wednesday morning post on X.
"I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun. Space holds unparalleled potential for breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and perhaps even pathways to new sources of energy. There will inevitably be a thriving space economy—one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space," Isaacman said.
This spring, Isaacman, who is a billionaire, gave the U.S. Space Force Historical Foundation the largest private donation in the organization's 35-year history. That donation provided momentum for the foundation's proposal to convert Port Canaveral's Exploration Tower into a public learning center featuring space exploration-themed exhibits, interactive technology and educational programs. No decisions have been made yet.
FLORIDA TODAY requested an interview with Nelson last week, in light of the new incoming presidential administration. A NASA spokesperson replied that interview opportunities will be available in the near future.
Quelle: Florida Today