Jared Isaacman confirmed as head of NASA at a defining moment for space science
Billionaire Jared Isaacman is taking the reins of NASA at a difficult time for the space agency as it faces budget cuts and technical hurdles that could derail its most ambitious missions.
Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images
NASA finally has a new leader. After a year of hesitation, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Jared Isaacman, a tech billionaire who paid twice to go into space, to head the space agency.
His confirmation came at a decisive moment for NASAwhich is under increasing pressure from both budget cuts and technical obstacles that together could derail its most ambitious missions. On the chopping block are attempts to return samples of Martian rock that have already been collected on Earth for study, and a possible delay in NASA's proposal to return American astronauts to the Moon before the end of the decade.
Isaacman, 42, was originally nominated to lead the agency in December 2024. President Donald Trump disqualified him from running in May due to apparent conflicts of interest – the tech entrepreneur had previously donated to Democratic lawmakers and had ties to Trump's out-of-favor former adviser Elon Musk. But Trump renominated Isaacman in November.
About supporting science journalism
If you enjoyed this article, please consider supporting our award-winning journalism. subscription. By purchasing a subscription, you help ensure a future of influential stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Now that Isaacman has the job, his focus will likely be on getting NASA back on track to sending astronauts to the Moon in 2028. American lawmakers told him repeatedly throughout the confirmation process that beating China to the moon was a top priority; Beijing plans to land its astronauts on the lunar surface by 2030.
Scientists-astronauts and former cosmonauts said Scientific American that they hope Isaacman, who has been in space twice himself and participated in the first private spacewalk, will revitalize NASA after years of delays and failures on the Moon and Mars Exploration Program. Isaacman appears eager to fan the flames of NASA's efforts to stay ahead of the curve ahead of China. What is much less clear, however, is how he will respond to the Trump administration's push to cut the agency's budget and the space race, or lack thereof.
It's time to stand up for science
If you liked this article, I would like to ask for your support. Scientific American has been a champion of science and industry for 180 years, and now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I was Scientific American I have been a subscriber since I was 12, and it has helped shape my view of the world. science always educates and delights me, instills a sense of awe in front of our vast and beautiful universe. I hope it does the same for you.
If you subscribe to Scientific Americanyou help ensure our coverage focuses on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on decisions that threaten laboratories across the US; and that we support both aspiring and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return you receive important news, fascinating podcastsbrilliant infographics, newsletters you can't missvideos worth watching challenging gamesand the world's best scientific articles and reporting. You can even give someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you will support us in this mission.
