Tycoon Jared Isaacman Confirmed as Nasa Administrator After Controversial Nomination

Wealthy businessman Isaacman has been confirmed as the next chief of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, capping an unusual confirmation journey where President Donald Trump put his name forward, withdrew it, and then submitted his name once more.

Isaacman, an amateur jet pilot who was the first non-professional astronaut to conduct a extravehicular activity, is also the first agency head in many years to come straight from outside government.

For many, the legacy of his leadership will be judged on one crucial test: if NASA can send astronauts to the Moon in advance of the Chinese space program.

The President has made clear a ambition for the United States to establish a permanent lunar base, both to facilitate harvesting materials and to act as a stepping stone for missions to the Red Planet.

Legislative Approval and Background

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate approved his appointment with a decisive vote.

The President first withdrew Isaacman's nomination in the spring, pointing to a "comprehensive examination of past connections".

At the time, the president was openly clashing with the SpaceX CEO, one of his largest political donors, with whom the nominee has business connections.

The new administrator indicates he is now aligned with Trump's mission to harvest the moon, placing him in disagreement with Elon Musk, who has said that focus on the moon is a diversion from the goal of reaching Mars.

Vision for NASA

In the present global space race, countries are competing to exploit the lunar surface.

“Now is not the time for hesitation but a time for progress because if we fall behind, if we stumble, we may never catch up, and the implications could change the balance of power here on Earth,” he told the Senate committee recently.

The business leader sees introducing more private sector competition as essential for meeting those targets, according to a recently leaked document laying out his vision for NASA.

In his testimony, he reaffirmed the strategy, which he drafted when he was initially selected, but clarified it was a developing document.

His openness to rivalry could also create a conflict with SpaceX. Recently, Isaacman applauded the issuance of a significant agreement to Blue Origin, which is one of the few rivals of Musk's SpaceX.

In the leaked plan, he suggested NASA should increasingly partner with research institutes, casting the agency as a "force multiplier for research".

He cited the scheduled deployment of the Roman Telescope as a prime illustration.

"Should we be close to something extraordinary - like deploying the Roman Telescope - I will leave no stone unturned to make it happen, even funding it myself if that's what it requires to achieve the discoveries," he wrote.

Personal Fortune

According to estimates, his wealth is pegged at approximately $1.2bn, accumulated through his payment processing company and the divestment of his company that trained pilots and operated a collection of military jets.

The NASA administrator role will be his initial foray in politics, a break from the previous two appointees appointed as head of the agency.

He will succeed Sean Duffy, who has acted as acting administrator since July.