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Jared Isaacman, President Trump’s nominee to be NASA administrator, stressed the importance of returning to the Moon with human explorers ahead of China during his April 9 Senate confirmation hearing.
The nominee also stressed the need to develop the technologies, including nuclear propulsion, to press ahead aggressively with the human exploration of Mars.
Isaacman expressed support for a sustained human presence in low-Earth orbit (LEO) by supporting International Space Station (ISS) operations through its congressionally mandated retirement date of 2030. That way, he said, the orbital lab’s scientific research and technology activities would be transitioned to commercial space station successors without a gap.
Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency and an associate of Isaacman’s, has called for an accelerated deorbit of the ISS
Isaacman emphasized his positions on NASA’s human deep-space exploration objectives and LEO pursuits were based on their national security, economic and science significance, responding to questions posed by members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
The session concluded without a committee vote on Isaacman’s nomination or that of Arielle Roth as assistant secretary of Commerce for communications and information.
Isaacman was questioned repeatedly to clarify his stance on whether NASA should proceed with establishing a sustained human lunar presence prior to pressing forward with human expeditions to Mars.
As the hearing drew to a close. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who chairs the committee, pressed Isaacman a final time for clarification, noting that congressional authorizations in 2024 and 2022, as well as the Space Policy Directive-1 signed by Trump during his first term, say NASA is to establish a sustainable human lunar presence to apply lessons learned to human Mars exploration.
“As a space enthusiast, I would like nothing more as I said before to see a number of lunar outposts and Mars outposts and for us to progress even further into our solar system,” Isaacman answered. “If we were in an unlimited budgetary environment, we could help maintain an ongoing presence on the lunar surface. I am more than supportive of it.
“I think it’s imperative that we have to get back to the Moon, first as quickly as we possibly can to figure out again the scientific, economic and national security value of being there, which I hope we are going to find in order to support the ongoing presence on the lunar surface.”
Part of NASA’s Artemis Moon to Mars strategy is to assemble the Gateway, a multi-module, internationally partnered lunar orbiting space station. Cruz also pressed Isaacman to clarify his support for the Gateway, noting it faces budget and schedule challenges. NASA has stressed its research and technology potential for long-duration human expeditions to Mars.
“Senator, that is an area that if I’m confirmed I again would love to roll up my sleeves and get a further understanding of what are the opportunities that Gateway extends to us and where are some of the challenges,” Isaacman said.
But he added, “I think the Gateway is a component of any of the programs that are over budget and behind schedule.”
Isaacman also was pressed by Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) on his support for NASA’s current Moon-to-Mars architecture and its survivability under growing budget constraints.
“I don’t feel like I have a good understanding of what your actual position is right now,” Kim told the nominee. “You seem more Mars-oriented.”
“I would actually hope you are getting a sincere answer from me that we should be doing both,” Isaacman responded. “NASA was built to do the near impossible and have a thriving economy in low-Earth orbit and continue extraordinary science missions to kind of unlock the secrets of the universe.”
Cruz also sought a commitment from Isaacman regarding current congressional authorization to keep the NASA-led ISS functioning until 2030.
“Senator, I will absolutely commit to follow the law,” Isaacman answered. “I think we need to maximize the return the taxpayers have invested in that orbital laboratory, with every bit of time we have to crack the code on the space economy and give commercial low-Earth-orbit destinations a fighting chance to inevitably take over.”
Isaacman also was questioned about his support for NASA’s Earth science activities by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), a member of the committee.
“I’m very passionate about the Earth science division inside NASA, especially with respect to anything that has an impact on human life and the financial repercussions for remediating things such as wildfire, landslides and flooding,” Isaacman said.
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