Recommendations of the Editorial team
The choice of billionaire Jared Isaacman by President Donald Trump To the administrator of the NASA is extremely unusual. Or at least for a normal government.
Isaacman has a contract worth several ten million dollars or more with Elon Musks Space and satellite company Spaceex. Isaacman, pilot and commercial astronaut, flew into space twice with a SpaceX spaceship.
The Senate trade committee has not yet heard a hearing to Isaacman’s nomination.
“Americans will go for a walk on the moon and Mars”
“With the support of President Trump I can promise you something. We will never lose our ability to travel to the stars again. And never satisfied ourselves with second place”, ” posted Isaacman on X in December. “We will inspire children, theirs and mine, to look up. And to dream of what is possible. Americans will go for a walk on the moon and Mars. And thereby improve life here on Earth.”
According to Isaacmans financial disclosure His agreement with SpaceX for his Polaris program, his private space program, amounts to more than $ 50 million. The agreement includes “space services and strategic agreements”.
As a NASA administrator, Isaacman would probably the Monitor the relationship between the authority to SpaceX. It carries out trips to and from the international space station. Recently brought two astronauts to earth Back that were stranded in a Boeing spaceship. NASA also plans to work with SpaceX to work together People to the moon to send. Musk even said that SpaceX an unmanned spaceship will start to Mars by next year.
Two fiery failures
SpaceX has also experienced two fiery failures this year. At the beginning of this month, an unmanned SpaceX rocket exploded in the air and interrupted About 500 flights. It rained rubble above Florida And the Caribbean. The rocket, Starship, received flight release shortly after the explosion of another Starship rocket in January.
“I think SpaceX is – for our time – the most incredible adventure that you can imagine”, Isaacman told CNN in August. “It’s not just about Mars. It is actually about the possibility of deciphering the secrets of life. Where do we really come from? What is our goal?”
According to NASA, the authority has more than 15 billion US dollar output for SpaceX.
In his ethical agreement Isaacman promised to terminate his company’s contracts with SpaceX. And said that SpaceX would send a refund for services that have not yet been completed. Which means that his company could receive millions of SpaceX if he is confirmed.
In 2021, Isaacman finance the first room flight into the earth orbit
In 2021, Isaacman financed the first space flight into the earth orbit, which was exclusively occupied by civilians, Inspiration4. He and three colleagues who were the winners of a competition flew in a SpaceX crew Dragon capsule for three days.
After this flight, Isaacman concluded a contract with SpaceX about the creation of the Polaris program, which focuses on space travel. In September 2024 he traveled to space for the second time with the Crew Dragon. He went on the trip with three other people. Of which two worked for SpaceX. Isaacman was The first personthat carried out a commercial space walk. The astronauts also tested new SpaceX room suits. Isaacman planned to travel to space twice in future Polaris SpaceX missions.
Shift4 – a company processing company
Isaacman is also the founder and CEO of Shift4. A company processing company. He also founded a defense company, Draken International. It has Contracts with the Air Force and the Marines as well as the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. It also has the world’s largest private fleet of military aircraft. He sold part of its shares in 2019.
Shift4 is financially connected to SpaceX. Show documentsthat Shift4 bought SpaceX shares worth $ 27.5 million in 2021. Isaacman has 25 percent by Shift4.
In an email to Shift4 employee, Isaacman explained that he would “keep the majority of my investment in Shift4. Subject to ethical obligations” if he should take over the position of the NASA administrator, As CNN reported.
He defended Musk in the past.
“I don’t have to public opinion [Elon Musks] Have politics. Because the man and his companies are much more than that “, posted Isaacman on X in October. “What interests me are the enormous problems that change the world. And Elon and his companies work on their solution. Generally also how I can help.”
Blue Origin from Jeff Bezos – a discontinued model?
Isaacman criticized the approach of NASA, two private companies, SpaceX and Blue Origin by Jeff Bezos, to have different moon ferries developed, in the event that one of them fails. He said NASA should use the money more sensibly. And only work with a company.
“People wrongly assume that I want to help SpaceX to win. he wrote on X in March last year.
“Provide billions for the redundancy of Moonland ferries. At the expense of dozens of scientific programs,” he added. “I don’t like that.”