Washington: The US Senate has approved the re-nomination of billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator, making him the first person from outside the government to lead the space agency.
The 42-year-old, who is backed by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, takes charge at a sensitive moment for NASA, which is facing renewed political pressure to return US astronauts to the Moon and eventually push on to Mars. A payments industry entrepreneur by background, Isaacman made his fortune in online payment processing and is known for his personal passion for space exploration.
The current administration has made clear that it wants to accelerate a manned US mission to the Moon. “America will return to the Moon before our great rival, and we will establish an enduring presence to understand and realise the scientific, economic and national security value of the lunar surface," Isaacman said during his second confirmation hearing in December.
He also pledged to ensure the success of NASA’s Artemis program, which was launched in 2017 during Trump’s first term and aims to establish a sustained US presence on the Moon.
