Trump Picks Billionaire Jared Isaacman, Private Astronaut with SpaceX Ties, as Next NASA Chief

Jared Isaacman | Image Credits: AP

US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Jared Isaacman, a billionaire and the first private astronaut to ever perform a spacewalk, as the next head of NASA on Wednesday. Isaacman, the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, has made a name for himself in the commercial spaceflight industry, particularly through his high-profile partnerships with SpaceX, led by Elon Musk. His nomination is seen as a significant move towards expanding private sector involvement in space exploration.

Trump, in his announcement said, "I am delighted to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Jared will drive NASA's mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in space science, technology, and exploration."

Who is Jared Isaacman?
At 41, Isaacman has become a prominent figure in space exploration, partly due to his role in the Polaris program, a collaboration with SpaceX. This program, which involves three missions, includes a historic spacewalk that took place in September. During the mission, Isaacman became the first private astronaut to step outside of a Crew Dragon capsule and gaze at Earth from space, a remarkable achievement that has drawn international attention.

The nomination could raise concerns over potential conflicts of interest, particularly given Isaacman's close financial ties to Musk, who is one of Trump's top advisors. Isaacman has invested significantly in SpaceX, including a reported $200 million of his own funds to lead the 2021 all-civilian Inspiration4 mission, which was SpaceX's first mission of this kind. Despite this, Isaacman has been a strong supporter of Musk’s vision for the space industry and has frequently praised SpaceX’s achievements.

Isaacman’s vision for the future of space exploration focuses on the growth of a space economy, one that he believes will create countless opportunities for people to live and work in space. "At NASA, we will passionately pursue these possibilities," Isaacman said after Trump’s announcement.

A native of Pennsylvania, Isaacman’s entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 16 when he started the company that would eventually become Shift4 Payments from his family’s basement. Alongside his business acumen, Isaacman is a skilled aviator, qualified to fly military aircraft. He has set a world record for an around-the-world flight and has also performed in airshows.(With agency inputs)