WASHINGTON, D.C — President Donald Trump has chosen a billionaire who is known in both business and space exploration to lead NASA as its new administrator.
Jared Isaacman is the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, a prominent financial technology company. He has made headlines for his groundbreaking work with SpaceX, where he has funded and commanded multiple missions.
Earlier this year, Isaacman became the first private citizen to perform a spacewalk, marking a significant milestone in space exploration history. His achievements in this area reflect a growing trend towards private sector involvement in space missions, a field traditionally dominated by government organizations like NASA.
Trump’s decision to appoint Isaacman as NASA’s administrator seems in line with the former president’s vision of increasing private sector participation in space exploration.
During his presidency, Trump emphasized the importance of American space dominance, and Isaacman’s appointment is seen as a continuation of that policy.
Isaacman’s relationship with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is noteworthy. The collaboration between SpaceX and Isaacman has led to significant advancements in space technology, including private crew missions to orbit. This partnership has been particularly influential in shaping the future of commercial space travel.