President-Elect Donald Trump Selects Private SpaceX Astronaut Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator

Isaacman is first private citizen to perform EVA

WATCH: Jared Isaacman’s journey from entrepreneur to space explorer embodies the spirit of innovation and exploration that defines X Takeover. As the commander of the ‪@Inspiration4Mission‬ 4 mission, he made history as the first all-civilian crew to orbit the Earth aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. (Tesla Owners Silicon Valley video)

Jared Isaacman is the founder of Shift4 Payments and has funded and commanded private orbital missions on SpaceX rockets and spacecraft.

President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he has chosen 41-year-old Jared Isaacman, the founder and CEO of payment-processing company Shift4 Payments, as NASA administrator.

Isaacman, if confirmed, will replace Brevard County native and former Senator Bill Nelson.

“Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in space science, technology and exploration,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, the platform he launched in 2022.

“Jared’s passion for space, astronaut experience and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe and unlocking the new space economy make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new era.”

Isaacman has private spaceflight experience and has funded and commanded two private missions to Earth orbit, both of which flew with SpaceX hardware. He is flight-qualified in multiple military jet aircraft and organized and commanded Inspiration4, the first-ever all-civilian orbital spaceflight in September 2021.

Inspiration4, a private spaceflight using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Resilience, launched from Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County on September 16, 2021. The crew returned to Earth on September 18, 2021, after orbiting 364 miles in altitude. The mission was part of a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, to which Isaacman pledged to donate $100 million.

During the Inspiration4 mission, Isaacman made the first-known sports bet from space, placing two bets on NFL football with the BetMGM Sportsbook while over Las Vegas.

“I am honored to receive President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA,” said Isaacman on X. “Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.”

Isaacman commanded Polaris Dawn, a five-day mission that flew this past September. It traveled farther from Earth than any crewed flight since the Apollo era in the 1970s, reaching 870 miles, and included Isaacman’s first-ever private spacewalk.

The crew completed a multi-hour EVA on September 12, with all crew members exposed to the vacuum of space. However, Isaacman and Sarah Gillis were the only two to exit the spacecraft.

Over the five-day flight, the crew performed about 40 different science experiments, providing more insight into life in space. The crew also completed the first crewed demonstration of Starlink laser communication in space.

“I was born after the moon landings; my children were born after the final space shuttle launch,” Isaacman said on X.

“With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place. We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.”

Isaacman attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics. He is the founder of Draken International, a private air force provider, and the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, a payment processor. He is married and has two daughters, and as of September 2024, his estimated net worth is US$1.9 billion.

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