President Trump’s choice to lead NASA, Jreds Isaqman explained his relationship with Elon Musk.
The subject came repeatedly during the nomination hearing of Isaacman, which was held on April 9, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transport. Several Democratic Senator pressed a 42 -year -old billionaire on his relations with the SpaceX chief, who was a prominent supporter of Trump’s campaign and is now close advisor to the President.
For example, Sen Ed Mark (D-Mas) repeatedly asked Isaacman whether Musk Mar-e-Lago was in the room at the Florida Estate at the end of last year when Trump offered him a NASA job. Each time, Isaacman refused to directly respond, saying that he was interviewed by the President-Eating in Florida.
Market cited the concerns of possible conflicts to explain the line of his inquiry. Isaacman, the senator claimed, is “deep personal and financial relations” for musk, leading a company that competes for (and often) for NASA launch contracts.
There were certainly, or at least, there were financial relations between two billionaires: Isaacman in September 2021 – finished two leading astronaut missions with Prerna 4 – and took over the command and the Polaris gave the dawn to this previous collapse.
When the hearing was over, the questions about Musk did not stop. Markets and several other Democratic Senators asked Isaacman to provide more information about their relationship with Musk in their written “Questions”, which was released by the Commerce Committee on Thursday (April 24).
For example, Marki again asked about Musk’s appearance at the Mar-e-Lago meeting with Trump. But Isaacman clung to his guns, offering an uniform indirect answer.
“My interview was with the President of the United States. The person who was asking me questions – and eventually giving me an opportunity – the President himself,” he wrote.
Market also quoted March Story in Wall Street JournalWhich stated that Musk called Isaqman’sman at the end of last year to discuss the possible NASA administrator role. Isaacman directly denied that claim.
“Mr. Musk never called me to discuss on becoming a NASA administrator,” he wrote. “The only call I received about the post came from (Commerce) Secretary Lutynik, who was serving as co-chairman of the transition team. The phone interview eventually led to my in-tradition meeting and interview with President Trump.”
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The committee’s ranking member, Sen Maria Cantwell (D-WA) also asked Isaqman about his relationship with the world’s richest man. “I think you have a close relationship with Mr. Musk and his company, SpaceX,” she wrote.
But Isaacman disputed that characterization.
“My relationship with SpaceX is not unlike NASA, in which they are currently the only commercial provider who offers a crew transportation from the orbit of the low Earth,” he wrote. “I don’t have a close personal relationship with Mr. Musk. While I have ever talked to him in my ability as a SpaceX customer, I will describe our conversation as a professional. I admire and respect his contribution to space and technology, but it would be wrong to mark our relationship closely.”
Cantwell further asked Isaqman’s how their relations with Musk and SpaceX would not be in the presence of conflicts or conflicts. ” Isaacman replied that he has revealed all his financial relations and is following all the procedures prescribed by government ethics officials.
He said, “According to my morality agreement, I have abolished all the spaceflight service agreements with SpaceX, and all the money paid to SpaceX for future missions has been returned,” he said.
They may apply to the final two flights of the refund Polaris program, a series of SpaceX missions conducted and funded by Isaacman. (Polaris Don was the first of three planned Polaris flights.)
Isaqman further wrote that, if NASA is confirmed as the chief, he will resign from his positions in Shift 4 payments, the payment-processing company that he established and currently leads as CEOs. It was in response to a question from the Cantwell, stating that Shift4 “having a financial relationship” with a starlink, a spaceX assistant that provides internet service through a satellite megaconstalation in a low Earth’s orbit.
“I am not interested in individual benefits or benefiting any contractor – I am fully served my country and lead the world’s largest space agency with integrity and transparency,” ISAKMANAME
“For records” questions were not all about musk, of course. Democratic and Republican Senator asked Isaacman about several topics from NASA’s Artemis Moon program to the clear plan of Trump Administration, which is clear to surround NASA’s science budget.
Isaacman does not find the board on the board with such a deep cut. “I have not reviewed or party for any official discussion, but ~ 50% decrease in NASA’s science budget is not an optimal result,” he wrote.
You can find “Question for Record” of Democratic Senators HereRepublicans are Here,
And next week more action will be taken for Isaqman: On April 30, the Commerce Committee will vote on whether the full Senate has to report its enrollment or not, an important step in the confirmation process.
