Billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman is confirmed as new NASA chief

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Isaacman Becomes Youngest NASA Administrator as Senate Confirms

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SPACE.COM

US Senate confirms Jared Isaacman as new NASA administrator

SpaceNews

Senate confirms Isaacman as NASA administrator

Metaculus

Date of next NASA Moon Landing

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George Whitesides

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"We're not shutting anything down at this point."

"NASA will pursue Earth science missions that will produce valuable data on natural hazards, groundwater, and environmental phenomena that support various industries and stakeholders."

"GISS [the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies] as an independent entity will not continue."

"Proposed FY 2026 cuts could end support for nearly 40 active and planned NASA science missions — many of them Earth-focused."

President Donald Trump's budget request to Congress would "wipe out years of research that helps us understand greenhouse gas emissions, plant health, and the forces that are driving climate change."

"This [the Trump administration's move to cut funding] would impact any number of exciting missions, including missions to Venus, next-generation space telescopes, Earth observation satellites, and projects intended to understand the Sun."

"It [the proposed budget cut] would also stunt NASA's ability to study our own planet: Earth science funding would drop by 53%."

Will Budget Cuts Force NASA To Scale Back Earth Science Missions?

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Interesting Engineering

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Mariel Borowitz

"That there will not be a manned flight to Mars in 2028, nor in 2031, and probably not for twenty years after that."

"I’m thinking somewhere between 2040 and 2050."

"I'd say that [2040] is an audacious goal for us to meet."

"Humans are unlikely to step foot on Mars until the 2040s/2050s at the earliest, and there’ll never be a significant human settlement there because Mars is basically uninhabitable."

"Since nothing ever seems to go exactly according to plan, I'd expect something more like 2040."

"Space agencies hoping to send crewed missions to Mars by the early 2030s will either have to double down on their budgets or settle for less ambitious missions."

"And if we persevere on this pathway, we can reach Mars itself before 2035."

"We want to achieve a Mars landing in 2033."

"Humans will set out for Mars in the 2029 or 2031 windows, most likely."

"I think that the first human mission to Mars will take place about 2030, even though it is not currently on NASA’s schedule or any other space agency."

"Human landings [on Mars] may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely."

Will humans be sent to Mars before 2036?

The U.S. Senate confirmed billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator on December 17 in a 67-30 vote. Isaacman, 42, becomes the youngest person in history to lead NASA and the agency's 15th administrator.

The U.S. Senate confirmed billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator on December 17 in a 67-30 vote. Isaacman, 42, becomes the youngest person in history to lead NASA and the agency's 15th administrator.

President Donald Trump first nominated Isaacman in December 2024, but withdrew the nomination in May after what Trump described as "a thorough review of prior associations." Trump renominated Isaacman in November, stating his passion for space made him ideally suited to lead NASA.

President Donald Trump first nominated Isaacman in December 2024, but withdrew the nomination in May after what Trump described as "a thorough review of prior associations." Trump renominated Isaacman in November, stating his passion for space made him ideally suited to lead NASA.

Isaacman is the founder and CEO of payment processing company Shift4 and has commanded two private SpaceX missions. He led Inspiration4 in 2021, the first all-civilian orbital mission, and Polaris Dawn in 2024, which featured the first commercial spacewalk.

Space.com

Isaacman is the founder and CEO of payment processing company Shift4 and has commanded two private SpaceX missions. He led Inspiration4 in 2021, the first all-civilian orbital mission, and Polaris Dawn in 2024, which featured the first commercial spacewalk.

During confirmation hearings, Isaacman faced scrutiny over his relationship with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and his past political donations to Democrats. Isaacman downplayed his association with Musk, stating SpaceX is "the only organization that can send astronauts to and from space."

Daily Caller

FOX News

During confirmation hearings, Isaacman faced scrutiny over his relationship with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and his past political donations to Democrats. Isaacman downplayed his association with Musk, stating SpaceX is "the only organization that can send astronauts to and from space."

Isaacman emphasized the urgency of returning astronauts to the moon before China during his Senate testimony. He stated the nation faces strategic competition in space and warned that falling behind could shift the balance of power on Earth.

Isaacman emphasized the urgency of returning astronauts to the moon before China during his Senate testimony. He stated the nation faces strategic competition in space and warned that falling behind could shift the balance of power on Earth.

The confirmation places Isaacman at the helm of NASA as the agency faces budget uncertainty and aims to land astronauts near the moon's south pole in 2027. Isaacman succeeds Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who served as acting administrator since July.

The confirmation places Isaacman at the helm of NASA as the agency faces budget uncertainty and aims to land astronauts near the moon's south pole in 2027. Isaacman succeeds Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who served as acting administrator since July.

Senate Confirms Jared Isaacman as Youngest NASA Chief

Senate Confirms Jared Isaacman confirmed as Youngest NASA chiefChief

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