WASHINGTON — Almost 30 former NASA astronauts have signed a letter endorsing Jared Isaacman because the company’s subsequent administrator, calling on the Senate to think about his nomination as quickly as potential.
The letter, despatched to the management of the Senate Commerce Committee, mentioned Isaacman is “uniquely certified” to guide the company and requested them to carry a affirmation listening to for him as quickly as potential.
“We imagine that Jared Isaacman is uniquely certified to guide NASA at this vital juncture. As an entrepreneur, pilot, and having commanded two groundbreaking area missions, he brings credibility and functionality to make a distinction now,” states the letter, signed by 28 former NASA astronauts and posted to social media March 21 by one in all them, Garrett Reisman.
I’m one in all 28 former NASA Astronauts who signed this letter supporting Jared Isaacman for the place of NASA Administrator. Within the phrases of the letter, “Jared has a real ardour for area exploration and can carry a renewed power and sense of function to NASA.”
— Garrett Reisman (@astro-g-dogg.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM
“Jared will have the ability to apply his imaginative and prescient and enterprise acumen to make NASA a continued chief and fulfill its mission of exploration, inspiration, and discovery whereas increasing industrial alternatives that profit all Individuals,” the letter continued. “Jared has a real ardour for area exploration and can carry a renewed power and sense of function to NASA.”
Donald Trump introduced in December his intent to appoint Isaacman, the billionaire founding father of cost processing firm Shift4, as NASA administrator in December, a nomination that grew to become official Jan. 20, the day Trump was inaugurated as president. Isaacman is greatest recognized within the area group because the commander of the Inspiration4 personal astronaut mission in September 2021 and of the Polaris Daybreak personal astronaut mission three years later.
His nomination is beneath the jurisdiction of the Senate Commerce Committee, which has but to schedule a listening to to think about the nomination. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chairman of the committee, mentioned in February that the committee was “nonetheless ready for the paperwork to be accomplished” earlier than scheduling a listening to.
“NASA has a tough mission and subsequently requires regular management. We urge the Senate Commerce Committee to carry Mr. Isaacman’s affirmation listening to as quickly as sensible,” the previous astronauts said within the letter.
The signatories primarily served as astronauts on shuttle and area station missions, though one, Rusty Schweickart, flew on Apollo 9 in 1969. Different notable signatories embrace Bob Cabana, who after his astronaut profession was director of the Kennedy House Middle and NASA affiliate administrator; Invoice Readdy, who grew to become affiliate administrator for area operations; and John Grunsfeld, a veteran of a number of Hubble restore missions who later served as affiliate administrator for science and, through the 2024 election, backed a gaggle referred to as “House Cadets 4 Harris” that supported Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
The astronauts aren’t the one former NASA officers to help Isaacman’s nomination. Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine mentioned on the Satellite tv for pc 2025 convention March 11 he anticipated Isaacman to be an “superb” NASA administrator.
“I believe he’s acquired all of the instruments to be what might be essentially the most consequential NASA administrator given the period through which we stay in now,” Bridenstine mentioned of Isaacman, urging the Senate to verify him shortly. “The earlier he will get confirmed, the higher NASA goes to be. So, let’s not go away it linger. The worst factor for the company is to depart it linger.”
