Billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman told a Senate-appointed panel on Wednesday that he would prioritize sending American astronauts to Mars if he is confirmed as the next NASA administrator.
However, he added that he would not abandon the plan to return humans to the moon in 2027. However, he stressed that going to the Red Planet is a priority.
Isaacman, 42, was summoned before the panel to confirm his suitability to fulfill his responsibilities as NASA’s 15th administrator. After winning the presidential election, Trump had stated before taking office that he would like Isaacman to serve as NASA administrator under his administration.
With the departure of NASA administrator Bill Nelson under the Biden administration, the position has been filled by Janet Petro, who was appointed as the interim administrator by the Trump administration. She is also the first woman to be appointed as the (acting) administrator of NASA.
Jared Isaacman, who has invested in SpaceX operations as a partner and has been involved in space missions twice, is also the CEO of the payments company Shift4.
Isaacman, who said he hopes to give greater priority to the Mars mission, further commented that the Americans will have the technological facilities necessary to return to the Moon permanently on the journey to Mars.
