The US Senate Commerce Committee has approved the nomination of Jared Isaacman as the next NASA administrator, with a 19-9 vote, reflecting a divide among Senate Democrats. Despite the dissent, key Democrats like Maria Cantwell supported Isaacman's candidacy, appreciating his background in private spaceflight. The committee emphasized Isaacman's commitment to the Artemis Program. Tensions loom over U.S. space policy, particularly between returning to the Moon and aspirations for Mars, reflecting conflicting priorities within the current administration and Congress regarding the future of NASA's budget and projects.
"A commitment to keeping on with the Moon mission is the key requirement we have to have in this position," Cantwell said. "While it's not clear to me where the Trump administration ultimately will end up on the NASA budget, and I have concerns about some of their proposed cuts today, Mr. Isaacman seems to be committed to the current plan."
"I think this is a very big competitive issue for the United States of America. That competitiveness is not just a goal; it's a reality that we may some day wake up and find ourselves falling behind."
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