Trump picks billionaire private SpaceX astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead NASA

[Admin]

Donald Trump's choice for NASA chief is billionaire Jared Isaacman, a private astronaut who has funded and commanded two SpaceX missions.

Trump picks billionaire private SpaceX astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead NASA : Read more

 

[newtons_laws]

Jared Isaacman could be a good choice to lead NASA, having twice already been into space as a private astronaut, so with obvious technical knowledge and experience of spaceflight, and a passion for exploration. However I had to have a smile at the hyperbole of his statement that "With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place." The USA (or any other country for that matter) has never had the ability "to journey to the stars". It certainly did to the Moon 1969-1972, and possibly to Mars in a few years' time. Voyager 1 will come within 1.7 light years of another star in about 40,000years....

 

[EJD1984]

Though I am sure he is 100% for manned spaceflight, I hope he will be a strong supporter for the science programs currently in development.
I.E.
Mars Sample Return / CCRS
Habitable Worlds Observatory
AXIS
PRIMA

Back in Feb/March of 2017 the first Trump Administration tried to cancel RST, thankfully Congress pushed back.

FYI: Currently the NASA Budget is just 0.3% of the entire Federal Budget. I hope he will be a strong advocate for major increases. With what little funding the agency gets, it's amazing what it can do. Probably the most efficient government agency.

 

[fj.torres]

Though I am sure he is 100% for manned spaceflight, I hope he will be a strong supporter for the science programs currently in development.
I.E.
Mars Sample Return / CCRS
Habitable Worlds Observatory
AXIS
PRIMA

Back in Feb/March of 2017 the first Trump Administration tried to cancel RST, thankfully Congress pushed back.

FYI: Currently the NASA Budget is just 0.3% of the entire Federal Budget. I hope he will be a strong advocate for major increases. With what little funding the agency gets, it's amazing what it can do. Probably the most efficient government agency.

There is also the oft-neglected Aeronautics half of nAsa.
But Isaacman is a jet pilot. He can be counted on to understand the value of all the NASA sectors.

May he turn out as good a leader as the last Administrator Trump named.

 

[Rob77]

I wish him well and the move may be a good thing for NASA, but wouldn't this move be a huge conflict of interest considering his involvement with SpaceX?
However if i was in his shoes, why would I take a desk job when I can be flying jet plains and going to space....

 

[fj.torres]

I wish him well and the move may be a good thing for NASA, but wouldn't this move be a huge conflict of interest considering his involvement with SpaceX?
However if i was in his shoes, why would I take a desk job when I can be flying jet plains and going to space....

What conflict?
He's a SpaceX customer, like NASA, not a member of the company.

Has anybody ever listed him as an investor?
And if he were, he can divest.

 

[fj.torres]

However if i was in his shoes, why would I take a desk job when I can be flying jet plains and going to space....

Well, his space missions to date have been more than joyrides. He and his crews have performed both orbital science and community outreach to the young. Being at NASA amplifies his ability to see both done. Plus he gets to *try* to deal with some of the agency's suboptimal projects to free up budget for more deserving efforts.

Indications are the gentleman cares about doing more with his life than just having a good time. After all he could use his time and money to buy a superyacht and a pro sports team and live the life of the rich and famous. Instead, he has been taking on more significant challenges. And make no mistake, the NASA admin job today is a big challenge (especially the political side).

There is an ethos common among the tech community that is sadly rare among politicians, celebrities, and elites that Mr Isaacman likely adheres to: "Try to leave the world a better place than you found it."

From the outside it looks like he's well on his way just by his space missions.
Now he gets to play on a bigger and harder stage.

 

[Ken Fabian]

Earth climate observation is invaluable and the US has led the way - and according to Pew polling has more public support than crewed missions or space "colonization". Global warming won't go away by taking away the tools for observing it in near to real time, yet that is quite possible in the USA under Trump.

Will this new NASA chief support ongoing climate observation and climate science or will his support for Musk style space ambitions trump any support for NASA's Earth and climate science programs?

 

[fj.torres]

Earth climate observation is invaluable and the US has led the way - and according to Pew polling has more public support than crewed missions or space "colonization". Global warming won't go away by taking away the tools for observing it in near to real time, yet that is quite possible in the USA under Trump.

Will this new NASA chief support ongoing climate observation and climate science or will his support for Musk style space ambitions trump any support for NASA's Earth and climate science programs?

TBD.
But it is likely he won't be too fond of spending big money on the new launch Mount and SLS post Artemis 3. Especially if he still rides crew Starship. (That is likely off the table if he gets confirmed.)

Remember that the purpose of the commercial space initiatives is to free up cash for aero and science missions. So the real decision isn't orbital science vs Starship but orbital science vs SLS.

The time to wonder about his allegiances is when the final decision about Hubble comes up: repair or replace? We know where his heart lies.