Jared Isaacman, billionaire, fighter pilot and SpaceX mission participant, has found himself at the epicenter of the U.S. Congress. During his nomination hearing to become NASA’s new administrator, he announced plans to continue the Artemis lunar program. However, he also noted the importance of the Martian mission. This position immediately caused controversy because of its conflict with the views of Elon Musk, who insists on abandoning the Moon altogether in favor of a “jump” to the Red Planet.
Between the Moon and Mars
Isaacman, who previously funded the private space mission Inspiration4, emphasized that returning to the Moon was an integral step to prepare for a mission to Mars. “We can discover scientific, economic and national advantages along the way,” he said. The symbolic support was a visit from the Artemis II crew, which is preparing to orbit the Moon in 2026.
However, his words contradict the position of Elon Musk. The SpaceX CEO called NASA’s plans to return to the Moon a “distraction” earlier this year, and called for “flying straight to Mars”. Musk also criticized the program for being “inefficient,” noting that it is designed to support jobs, not results.
No, we’re going straight to Mars. The Moon is a distraction.
Mass to orbit is the key metric, thereafter mass to Mars surface. The former needs to be in the megaton to orbit per year range to build a self-sustaining colony on Mars.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 3, 2025
Congress is opposed to change
However, lawmakers have sharply rejected the idea of closing Artemis. Senator Ted Cruz warned that abandoning the Moon would make it a “gift” to China, which would be a disaster for national interests. In addition, the program has already absorbed more than $40 billion, and its cancellation threatens to lose investment in the development of the SLS system, a heavy-lift launch vehicle.
“Why did it take so much time and money?” – Isaacman questioned. But added that Artemis remained a priority. At the same time, he assured that NASA was capable of combining lunar missions with preparations for Mars: “It shouldn’t be an either-or choice.”
Balance between NASA and SpaceX
US President Donald Trump has nominated Isaacs to head NASA. On the night of April 10, congressional hearings were held to confirm the new head. Electing a billionaire to this important position is a highly unusual decision, as the position is usually filled by former politicians or people who have more traditional spaceflight experience.
The future head’s main dilemma is to retain the confidence of Congress without quarreling with Musk, whose Falcon and Starship rockets are critical to the agency. But it’s already noticeable that Isaacman is taking the agency’s side, because he understands its importance to the United States. However, the billionaire is trying to restrain Elon Musk, who is trying to influence NASA in every way possible.
“SpaceX are the contractors, NASA is the customer. They work for us, not the other way around,” was the response of the future head of the space agency during a congressional hearing.
It’s not yet clear how Musk will respond to Artemis’ support. But if Isaacman doesn’t find a compromise, NASA risks losing both its lunar ambitions and its Martian dream. Will the billionaire astronaut succeed in becoming a bridge between two worlds? The answer will emerge in the coming years.
Earlier we reported on how NASA resisted Elon Musk’s plans to derail the colonization of the Moon.
According to The Washington Post
