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Billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman is set to appear before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for a confirmation hearing today at 10:00 a.m. ET. Isaacman’s nomination as NASA administrator has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the future direction of the space agency.
As reported earlier, President Donald Trump has selected Isaacman for the position of NASA administrator pending Senate confirmation. This unconventional pick marks a significant shift in the history of the agency, as Isaacman is an entrepreneur, pilot, and private astronaut with no prior experience working at the federal government level or within the space industry.
Isaacman commanded two private missions to space on board SpaceX’s crew capsules, including the Inspiration4 mission that carried the first all-civilian crew to reach orbit in 2021. He also led a four-person crew on the Polaris Dawn mission, where two crew members performed the first-ever commercial spacewalk last year.
NASA faces significant budget constraints and repeated delays to its Artemis Moon program, leaving the agency in dire need of fresh perspectives. Isaacman’s unorthodox background could potentially bring about a transformation for NASA, but concerns have been raised regarding his ties to the private sector and potential conflicts of interest.
The hearing will be streamed live through NASA’s website and YouTube channel, allowing the public to watch and participate in the confirmation process.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/how-to-watch-billionaire-astronaut-jared-isaacmans-hearing-to-lead-nasa-2000586996
