The US president, Mr. Donald J. Trump, nominated famous billionaire businessman and private astronaut Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator on December 4, 2024. The billionaire will replace the former NASA administrator Bill Nelson, under whose supervision NASA carried out some of the most sophisticated missions, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, Artemis 1 contributing to future Artemis missions, and the dART asteroid impact mission.
“I am delighted to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in space science, technology, and exploration,” posted Donald Trump on X.
I am delighted to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 4, 2024
“I am honoured to receive President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history,” posted the billionaire Jared Isaacman, thanking President Trump.
I am honored to receive President Trump’s @realDonaldTrump nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.
On my last mission…
— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) December 4, 2024
With a net worth of $1.7 billion, according to Forbes, the billionaire Jared Isaacman is the founder and CEO of the private payment processing company Shift4. Jared Isaacman was born in Union, New Jersey, US, in 1983. He dropped out of school at 16 and founded the company Union Bank Card in 1999.
The company was later renamed ‘Shift 4,’ which remains functional under his leadership to this date. Jared Isaacman first flew to space as the commander of SpaceX’s ‘Inspiration4 mission in 2021. The mission was part of a $100 million fundraiser that he raised for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
He became the first private astronaut to carry out a spacewalk during the ‘Polaris Dawn mission’ in September 2024 gaining tremendous respect and recognition in the space community.