Jared Isaacman, billionaire private astronaut on space race with China: “This is not the time for delay, but for action”

Billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman was on Capitol Hill for a second time this past week for a confirmation hearing with senators to become the next head of NASA. He was originally tapped for the position last year by then president-elect Donald Trump, but his nomination was abruptly revoked at the end of May.

Trump cited concerns about the e-commerce mogul’s past donations to Democrats and his association with SpaceX, with whom he flew on two all-private astronaut missions that he financed. He told senators that his message at the first hearing was about himself and his qualifications, but this time it was about “urgency.”

“This is not the time for delay, but for action”

“I am here with a message of urgency,” he told members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. While he never mentioned China by name, Isaacman stressed the need for the United States to return to the Moon ahead of “our great rival.”

“I know it is not lost on anyone in this room that we are in a great competition with a rival that has the will and the means to challenge American exceptionalism across multiple domains, including in the high ground of space,” he said.

“This is not the time for delay, but for action,” he continued. “Because if we fall behind, if we make a mistake, we may never catch up, and the consequences could shift the balance of power here on Earth.”

China and US racing to build colonies on the Moon

The US is currently working on the Artemis program to return American astronauts to the lunar surface. Artemis 2 is scheduled for February 2026, which will be a manned fly-by mission around the Moon.

The following mission planned for 2028 will put American boots on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. The idea is that this time round, the US will build a permanent settlement on the lunar surface.

For its part, China is working on its own program to put its taikonauts on the Moon and develop a permanent settlement. It has been making significant strides toward accomplishing the feat, with a spokesman saying in October that China’s crewed space program was “on track” to launch its lunar mission by 2030.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.