WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pick to helm NASA, a private astronaut and close ally of Elon Musk's SpaceX, is a central figure of a speedy, commercial-focused side of the space industry who would face unfamiliar political challenges as an administrator.
Jared Isaacman, the CEO of payment processing company Shift4 Payments, has made landmark visits to space on two ambitious SpaceX missions, including the first-ever privately funded spacewalk in September.
In accepting Trump's decision, he envisioned a "thriving space economy" and vowed to "usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization."
"He's going to definitely push NASA, but he'll do it in a positive way," said Garrett Reisman, a retired NASA astronaut who has been an adviser to SpaceX.
Musk had recommended Trump pick Isaacman and has since told associates he sees the tech billionaire as someone who will get things done at NASA, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
"He is a man (of) high ability and integrity," Musk said Wednesday of Isaacman on his X platform.
Targets at NASA for Trump and Musk's cost-cutting agenda that Isaacman is expected to eye include the agency's over-budget, $24 billion Space Launch System rocket and the in-development Gateway space station poised to sit in a lunar orbit. Other projects expected to face scrutiny include the agency's goal to return soil samples from Mars - another top NASA priority alongside its Artemis moon program.
While likely to face pushback from lawmakers, cuts to expensive NASA programs could mean boosts to companies such as SpaceX that have embraced cheaper and faster means of getting to space and offering rockets to the government as a privately owned service. That approach has contrasted with the space agency's traditional method of company contracting where companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin build spacecraft that the agency itself owns, controls and fully funds.
"Administrator-nominee Isaacman, if confirmed, will face challenges as he leads NASA into the future," said Dan Stohr, CEO of the industry group Coalition for Deep Space Exploration.
"Budget limitations, workforce, and infrastructure needs will all play a role in shaping NASA's future," Stohr added.
Nasa’s current administrator Bill Nelson said he spoke with Isaacman about his tentative nomination: "I think the relationship between Elon Musk and president-elect is going benefit ensuring funding for Nasa is there so I see that positively", Nelson told press conference Thursday