With the appointment of Jared Isaacman as NASA’s new administrator, a new chapter begins for the agency. His close relationship with SpaceX and its visionary founder, Elon Musk, suggests a major shift in priorities. With significant initiatives such as Artemis being delayed and having to cut back on its budget, Isaacman’s leadership could change the course of NASA, especially regarding its collaboration with private space firms. But what does that mean for humanity’s return to the Moon and, more ambitiously, the search to colonize Mars?
The significant role of Starship: Will SpaceX deliver for Artemis 3 by 2027?
Isaacman’s close ties to SpaceX indicate NASA is placing more trust in Musk’s company for its future missions. SpaceX already has nearly $5 billion in contracts with NASA, which is set to grow under Isaacman’s tenure. The immediate effects may be felt most by Artemis, NASA’s flagship initiative to return humans to the Moon.
It is supposed to land on the moon in 2025 as part of the Artemis 3 mission, but that mission has since slipped to 2027 and relies on SpaceX’s Starship to perform the moon landing. In addition, this plan requires multiple launches of Starship to fuel the spacecraft in space. This vital capability has not been demonstrated yet, but Isaacman’s backing of SpaceX could expedite testing and regulatory approvals.
Meanwhile, the controversial Space Launch System (SLS), NASA’s current Moon rocket, is threatened with an uncertain future. Critics say the rocket’s $4 billion per launch price tag proves that phasing it out in favor of reusable rockets like Starship is only a matter of time.
Private space race: The impact of Isaacman’s role on Blue Origin
Isaacman’s experience at NASA could also affect other private space missions beyond SpaceX. Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin aerospace company has positioned itself as a formidable competitor with its New Glenn rocket and Blue Moon lander.
However, as for lunar contracts, SpaceX is undoubtedly ahead for the time being, although NASA has already planned for Blue Origin to take over lunar landing duties for missions from Artemis 5 and beyond. Isaacman could change those plans depending on how he allocates resources.
Time, too, is an urgent consideration. Beijing said it will send a crewed mission to the far side of the Moon by 2029, with a landing a year later. That pressures NASA to stick to its timetable and keep the US at the forefront of space exploration. With Artemis mission delays and a failure to adopt this more commercial-driven approach, one can assume it is on the table, and it will be up to NASA to keep up.
The Moon versus Mars: Will Isaacman change NASA’s priorities?
While NASA’s current vision is the Moon, Isaacman has SpaceX ties himself and seems to have his eye on an even bolder target: Mars. Musk has been open about his ambition to create a human settlement on the Red Planet (just like this frozen life that may have been discovered on Mars).
Over the next two years, SpaceX intends to dispatch five uncrewed Spaceships to Mars. If this plan works, it could pave the way for a crewed mission as early as 2028. Management of Isaacman’s missions is also expected to enable increased NASA participation in Mars missions and possibly “reallocating budgets from other missions” to support robotic exploration of the Red Planet.
However, it also inquires about the impact on planned NASA robotic exploration programs, including future missions to Jupiter’s and Venus’s moons. One of Isaacman’s most significant challenges will be balancing long-term goals with continued science.
The appointment of Jared Isaacman also signals what could be a sea of change in how NASA deals with outer space exploration. His firm support for SpaceX and focus on efficiency may also boost the lunar and Martian missions. Yet there are all lingering questions: does Artemis stay on track, or does Starship steal the show? Will NASA be able to beat China in the new space race? As it moves into this pivotal period, one thing is sure: the coming years are set to determine humanity’s role among the stars (such as Elon Musk’s plan to colonize Mars).
