President-elect Donald Trump has picked a billionaire entrepreneur with ties to Elon Musk to lead NASA. Trump said he plans to nominate Jared Isaacman, announcing his choice Wednesday, Dec. 4.
“Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in space science, technology and exploration,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Issacman is the founder and CEO of the payment processing company Shift-4.
While he hasn’t worked at Nasa or in the federal government, he’s flown on commercial SpaceX missions twice. He also partnered with Musk in 2022 to pay for the launch of three private space flights called the Polaris Program.
Isaacman was one of four private citizens sent to space to be a part of the first all-civilian spacewalk.
He said it’s an honor to be nominated in a post on X, “Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.”
I am honored to receive President Trump’s @realDonaldTrump nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.
— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) December 4, 2024
On my last mission…
Musk, whom Trump chose to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, congratulated Issacman on X.
Congratulations @rookisaacman! https://t.co/3R6qzdVRf1
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 4, 2024
He has two more flights reserved with Musk’s SpaceX, including a trip leading Starship’s first crew into orbit around Earth.
If Isaacman gets confirmed, he’ll replace Bill Nelson, a former Democratic senator from Florida nominated by President Joe Biden.
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