Jared Isaacman poses near a jet piloting cabin during his flight with the USAF Thunderbirds. Credit: Inspiration4/John Kraus (Flickr, CC By-NC-ND 2.0)
Jared Isaacman, billionaire, CEO and candidate to become the next administrator of NASA, had to face questions on 9 April 2025, by the members of the Senate Committee for trade, science and transport during his confirmation hearing for the position.
If the Senate confirms it, Isaacman will be the first billionaire – but not the first astronaut – to direct NASA. Perhaps even more significant, it will be the first administrator of NASA with significant links with the commercial space industry.
As an expert in space policies, I know that NASA’s leadership is important. The head of the agency can significantly shape the missions it pursues, the science that undertakes and, ultimately, the result of the exploration of the American space.
An unconventional background
At 16, Isaacman abandoned high school to start a payments processing company in his basement. The effort succeeded and in the end it became known as Shift4.
Although he found early success in business, Isaacman also had a love for aviation. In 2009, he set up a record to fly around the Earth in a light jet, beating the previous record of over 20 hours.
While the SHIFT4 CEO remains, Isaacman founded another company, Draken International. The company eventually brought together the largest world fleet of private -owned combat jets. Now it helps to train US Air Force drivers.
In 2019, Isaacman sold his participation in Draken International. In 2020, he advertised Shift4, making him a billionaire.
Isaacman continued to expand in the aerospace, working with Spacex starting from 2021 The mission, which led, represented the first flight of private astronauts to Spacex. He sent four unprecedented civilians to orbit in orbit.
Following the success of Inspiration4, Isaacman worked with Spacex to develop the Polaris program, a series of three missions to help develop the Spacex human space flight skills. In autumn 2024, the first of these missions, Polaris Dawn, was launched.
Polaris Dawn added further results to Isaacman’s curriculum. Isaacman, together with his teammate Sarah Gillis, completed the first private space. Polaris Dawn’s Dragon’s Dragon’s Dragon Careglis (1,367 kilometers) from Earth, the most distant distance humans had been from the Apollo missions.
The next adventure: NASA
In December 2024, the Trump administration on the way announced its intention to appoint Isaacman for the office of NASA administrator.
As an NASA administrator, Isaacman would supervise all NASA’s activities at a critical moment in his history. The Artemis program, which has been underway since 2017, has planned several missions for the next few years.
This includes the mission of Artemis II of 2026, which will send four astronauts to orbit the moon. So, in 2027, Artemis III will aim to land on it.
But, if Isaacman is confirmed, his mandate will arrive at a time when there are significant questions about the Artemis program, as well as the measure in which NASA should use commercial space companies such as Spacex. The agency is also facing financing cuts.
Some in the space sector proposed to completely demolish the Artemis program in favor of the preparation of going to Mars. Among this group there is the founder of Spacex, Elon Musk.
Others suggested to cancel the NASA spatial launch system, the massive rocket that is used for Artemide. Instead, they claim that NASA could use commercial systems, such as Spacex’s Starship or New Glenn of Blue Origin.
Isaacman also faced the accusations of being too close to the commercial space industry and in particular Spacex to guide NASA. This has become a wider concern, given the involvement of Musk in the Trump administration and its cost reduction efforts. Some critics are worried that Musk would have an even bigger voice in NASA if Isaacman was confirmed.
From his nomination, Isaacman has stopped working with Spacex in the Polaris program. He also made several support comments to other commercial companies.
But the success of any of the NASA plans depends on having the money and resources necessary to make it.
While NASA has been spared serious cuts up to this point, like many other government agencies, it is planning budget and mass fire cuts. These potential cuts are similar to those who have recently made other agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services.
During his confirmation hearing, Isaacman committed himself to maintaining the Artemis program, as well as the short -term launch system. He also insisted on the fact that NASA could return to the moon and prepare for Mars at the same time.
Although Isaacman claimed to believe that NASA had the resources to do both at the same time, the agency is still in a moment of budget uncertainty, so it may not be possible.
Speaking of his relationship with Musk, Isaacman said he had not talked to Musk from his appointment in November and that his relationship with Spacex would not have influenced his decisions.
In addition, he has committed himself to carrying out spatial science missions, in particular to “launch more telescopes, more probes, more rover”.
But since NASA is preparing for significant cuts to its scientific budget, there are some speculations about the fact that the agency may need to end some scientific programs, such as Hubble Space Telescope, completely.
The future of Isaacman
Isaacman has received support from the wider space community. Almost 30 astronauts have signed a letter to support his appointment. The former NASA administrators, as well as the main groups in the sector, have reported their desire to confirm Isaacman.
He also received the support of Senator Ted Cruz, president of the Committee.
Except for any great development, Isaacman will probably be confirmed as an NASA administrator from the Senate in the coming weeks. The Committee for Commerce, Science and Transport could approve its appointment once it returns from a two -week break to the end of April. It would follow a complete vote from the Senate.
If the Senate confirms it, Isaacman will have several important issues to face at NASA, all in a very uncertain political environment.
Wendy Whitman Cobb is a professor of strategy and security studies at Air University.
Wendy Whitman Cobb is affiliated to the US School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. His opinions are his and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Department of Defense or of any of its members.
This entry was originally published on The conversation. He is republished with a Creative Commons license.
