Jared Isaacman was sworn in as NASA’s 15th administrator the same day President Trump issued an order to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028 and build a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. Isaacman emphasized rapid action, stronger commercial partnerships with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, and development of nuclear power in space to enable future Mars missions. The White House plan also calls for phasing out the ISS by 2030 in favor of commercial stations. Isaacman acknowledged budget uncertainty after Jan. 30 but expressed confidence the agency can pursue these ambitious goals.
Jared Isaacman Sets Ambitious NASA Agenda on Day One: Moon Return by 2028, Lunar Outpost by 2030
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, left, swears in Jared Isaacman, right, as the 15th administrator of NASA, as Isaacman's parents, Donald and Sandra Marie, join him Thursday in Washington, D.C. (Bill Ingalls / NASA via Getty Images)
Billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman was sworn in Thursday as NASA’s 15th administrator and immediately signaled bold priorities for the agency. On the same day, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing NASA to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028, begin work on a permanent lunar outpost by 2030, and lay groundwork for future Mars missions.
A Clear Roadmap
The executive order is expected to serve as a roadmap for Isaacman and NASA. "Within the next three years, we are going to land American astronauts again on the Moon, but this time with the infrastructure to stay," Isaacman told NBC News after his swearing-in.
Isaacman takes the helm at a pivotal moment as the administration emphasizes urgency in returning crewed missions to the lunar surface, in part to maintain U.S. leadership amid growing global competition in space.
Artemis Program and Upcoming Missions
The next phase of NASA’s return-to-the-Moon effort, the Artemis program, could resume as early as February with Artemis II. That mission would send four astronauts on an approximately 10-day flight around the Moon to validate the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew capsule. The follow-up Artemis III mission is planned to land astronauts near the Moon’s south pole.
Commercial Partnerships and Nuclear Power
Under Isaacman’s leadership, NASA is expected to continue expanding commercial partnerships. Companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are positioned to play major roles in the agency’s lunar plans, and Isaacman said additional private space firms will support those efforts.
The administration’s space policy also emphasizes developing a "vibrant commercial space economy through the power of American free enterprise," and outlines a plan to phase out the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030 in favor of commercial space stations.
The directive places special emphasis on nuclear power in space. Building on prior guidance from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy — who served as acting NASA administrator before Isaacman’s confirmation — the order sets a goal of developing a nuclear reactor ready to launch to the Moon by 2030. Isaacman said nuclear power will be essential for sustained lunar operations and for enabling exploration beyond the Moon, including future missions to Mars.
Budget Challenges
One of Isaacman’s immediate challenges will be implementing the White House’s ambitions within tight budget constraints. Current government funding runs through Jan. 30; after that date, NASA could face substantial cuts, with science programs particularly vulnerable.
Despite the uncertainty, Isaacman expressed confidence in the agency’s talent and ability to pursue multiple priorities simultaneously. "Whether it’s $25 billion or $20 billion, that’s an awful lot of money coming into the agency every single year," he said. "We’ve got the best and brightest that are capable of taking on numerous challenging endeavors — the near impossible — simultaneously."
With a new administrative mandate, an emphasis on commercial partnerships, and a push toward advanced technologies like space nuclear power, Isaacman has framed a fast-moving agenda that seeks to reassert U.S. leadership on the Moon and prepare for eventual missions to Mars.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
