Donald Trump’s nomination for NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman, says NASA faces many challenges despite being one of the world’s most accomplished space agencies.
In written questions for the record released by the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation last week, Isaacman said NASA’s challenges had “impeded the mission.”
Isaacman flagged what he perceived as three NASA failures. He said the agency had not returned to the Moon or developed an “achievable path” to Mars despite plans to do so dating back 30 years.
Secondly, he said flagship programs were consistently over budget and behind schedule. Finally, Isaacman said NASA had failed to develop the space economy.
“For over 60 years, the space economy has had the same customers (governments) looking for the same capabilities (communications and observation),” he argued.
Trump’s nominee told the committee that NASA had too many “distracting” priorities not fully aligned with its mission. Isaacman also said NASA’s organisation structure and policies “fuel bureaucracy” and “throttles progress.” He said NASA’s culture needs to be reivigorated and make better use of commercial industry.
Isaacman is an billionaire entrepreneur, pilot, and commercial astronaut who commanded 2021’s Inspiration 4 Mission and 2024’s Polaris Dawn Mission. He faced intense questioning during his nomination hearing earlier this month. Democrat committee members wanted to know about his relationship with SpaceX founder Elon Musk and whether he supported White House proposals to slash NASA science program budgets by half.
Isaacman said he wanted to advance Trump’s goal for the US to lead in space, science, technology, and exploration. But he played down speculation about his desire to gut NASA.
“A 50% reduction to NASA’s science budget does not appear to be an optimal outcome,” Isaacman told the committee. “If confirmed, I will advocate for strong investment in space science… I am committed to NASA’s quest to explore space.”
Musk not a close buddy
He also rebutted reports Musk called him late last year to discuss the administrator’s job. Isaacman said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was serving as co-chair of the transition team at the time, first approached him about the job.
“I do not have a close personal relationship with Mr. Musk,” Isaacman said. “While I’ve spoken with him occasionally over the years in my capacity as a SpaceX customer, I would describe our interactions as professional.”
He said he believed NASA could manage several programs simultaneously. He said he backed Boeing’s Space Launch System rocket and Lockheed Martin’s Orion capsule as SpaceX competitors.
If Trump did cut NASA’s budget, he said would prioritise returning humans to the Moon over sending astronauts to Mars. But he added that there was no reason why NASA could not pursue both programs.
This week, the Commerce Committee will vote on whether or not to report his nomination to the full Senate, a key step in the confirmation process. The Senate will decide on the nomination in mid-May.
If the Senate approves Donald Trump’s nomination for NASA director, Isaacman say he will “work tirelessly to returning NASA’s “focus to executing on the mission.”
