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President-Elect Donald Trump has announced Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur, astronaut, and defense contractor, as his choice to lead NASA.
More on Isaacman: Jared Isaacman is a private astronaut known for his groundbreaking contributions to both the financial technology and aerospace industries. As the founder and CEO of Shift4, a leading payments processing company, Isaacman built his wealth, with his current net worth estimated to exceed $1 billion. Additionally, he co-founded Draken International, a private military contractor that provides fighter jet services to the Department of Defense. Isaacman gained global recognition through his close collaboration with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, where he financed and led two private spaceflights, including the historic Inspiration4 mission, which raised millions for charity.
In a statement, Trump said, “Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration.” He added, “Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era.”
Isaacman reacts: In response to his nomination, Jared said, “I am honored to receive President Trump’s 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. On my last mission to space, my crew and I traveled farther from Earth than anyone in over half a century. I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun. Space holds unparalleled potential for breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and perhaps even pathways to new sources of energy. There will inevitably be a thriving space economy—one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space. At NASA, we will passionately pursue these possibilities and usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization.”
He added, “I was born after the Moon landings; my children were born after the final space shuttle launch. 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. We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.”
