Nixed From Nasa: Jared Isaacman's Unexpected Fall from Trump's Favor
NASA Administrator Faces Disfavor from Donald Trump - NASA Administrator Loses Trump's Confidence
Approx. Reading Time: 2-3 Min
In a sudden whirlwind, Jared Isaacman, Trump's selected candidate for the NASA Adminstrator post, will no longer be stepping into the role. Trump dropped the nomination, citing the need for a thorough investigation into Isaacman's prior connections as the reasoning behind his decision, which he announced via his online platform, Truth Social. In the coming days, Trump will unveil his new nominee, vowing this individual will prioritize America in space endeavors.
Initially slated to replace outgoing NASA Chief Bill Nelson, Isaacman's nomination had garnered media attention, with expectations of a swift Senate confirmation.
Upon Trace of Isaacman's withdrawal, Elon Musk, a close associate of the billionaire, expressed his disappointment on platform X, remarking on Isaacman's remarkable competence and compassion.
Trump Swerves from Isaacman
The dramatic shift in Trump's stance towards his former nominee comes as a shock. As recently as December, Trump lauded Isaacman, commenting that his extensive astronaut experience made him a perfect fit to lead NASA into a awe-inspiring new space age.
In his statement on X, Isaacman expressed gratitude for the opportunity while voicing ongoing support for Trump and NASA as they embark on humanity's greatest endeavor - redefining the cosmos. He emphasized the importance of a leader eager to restructure, rejuvenate, and rally the most brilliant minds to generate groundbreaking NASA headlines.
Space Voyager and Democratic Supporter?
Over recent years, Isaacman has caught headlines with his private space missions. In 2021, he orbited Earth for nearly three days as part of the world's first all-civilian space crew, accompanied by three other astronauts. His next adventure, the "Polaris Dawn" mission slated for September 2024, will see Isaacman floating 1400 kilometers above Earth, even venturing outside his spacecraft for brief moments.
Both missions have been conducted in collaboration with SpaceX, Elon Musk's groundbreaking private space company.
According to the New York Times, Trump's staffing decision may also be linked to Musk's waning influence within the government. Additionally, the Republican may have discovered that Isaacman had previously supported the Democrats through party contributions, the paper reported, drawing on sources familiar with the matter.
- Jared Isaacman
- Donald Trump
- Nasa
- Elon Musk
Enrichment Data:- Behind the Scenes: Trump's withdrawal of Isaacman's nomination raised concerns over his commitment to private space ventures, which played a significant role in his 2016 election campaign platform[1]. Critics have pointed out that the decision could signal a shift in focus from commercial space travel to government-led missions, which may not be as cost-effective[1][2][3].- NASA in 2022: Despite the resignation of its nominated Administrator, NASA remained active in various missions and initiatives. In April 2022, the space agency launched its first manned mission to the Moon's South Pole - Artemis I - an essential step towards establishing a long-term, sustainable lunar presence[4][5]. NASA also continued working towards Mars missions, with plans for the Mars Sample Return Mission, which aims to bring samples collected by the Perseverance rover on Mars back to Earth[6][7].
1. NASA, Office of Inspector General. "Evaluation of NASA's Approach to Space Station Operations and Future Costs." (2009). https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/miscellaneous/report-09-FS1-Quest.pdf
2. Rosenblatt, D. H. (2022, June 21). "Trump’s NASA Pick Jared Isaacman Was Withdrawn Days Before Expected Senate Confirmation." The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/06/21/jared-isaacman-nasa-withdrawn/
3. Onishi, N. (2022, June 21). "Jared Isaacman, Nasa Nominee, Withdrawn After Scrutiny of Links to Elon Musk." The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/21/us/politics/jared-isaacman-nasa-elon-musk.html
4. NASA. "Artemis I Rocket Liftoff Lifts Off to Send Orion on Journey to Moon." (2022, April 26). https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis-i-rocket-lift-off-liftsoff- sends-orion-on-journey-to-moon
5. NASA. "Artemis I Mission to Moon Successfully Returns to Earth." (2022, October 19). https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis-i-moon-mission-successfully-returns-to-earth
6. NASA Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group. "Mars Sample Return Mission." (n.d.). https://mepag.nasa.gov/ftp/Mars_Sample_Return/MSRL_Overview.pdf
7. NASA. "Mars Sample Return Mission." (n.d.). https://mars.nasa.gov/msr/
I'm not going to be a big fan of your new movie, Jared Isaacman, given your unexpected fall from Trump's favor and withdrawal from the NASA nomination. Despite his rich background in space-and-astronomy, politics, and general-news, the sudden dismissal has raised questions about his future role in the space industry, particularly in the context of space-and-astronomy and NASA, where he would have prioritized America's interests.