The last time I wrote about billionaire entrepreneur and “Polaris Dawn” hero Jared Isaacman, he had been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The news was welcomed by many Americans, and for good reason. He recently put construction of a permanent Moon base at the center of U.S. space policy as he begins to lead the NASA team into the next era of space exploration.
Recently appointed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on Friday told CNBC that the U.S. will return to the moon within President Donald Trump’s second term.Isaacman, a close ally of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, told CNBC’s “Closing Bell Overtime” that Trump’s recommitment to exploring the moon is key to unlocking the “orbital economy.”“We want to have that opportunity to explore and realize the scientific, economic and national security potential on the moon,” he said.Isaacman’s comments on Friday were some of his first public remarks since being confirmed to his position by the Senate last week, after a long saga throughout 2025.
When asked to expand upon those remarks on social media, Isaacman replied that he meant “Moon Base.”
Those of you who love science fiction may recognize the NASA plans from Apple TV’s exceptional series “For All Mankind.” The Artemis program will launch this project, via initial sorties and short‑stay missions, using landers and small surface assets.
At this point, the construction of a “Space Camp” will begin.
NASA will build on the momentum of that human return mission in four years and plans to send crew to the Moon about once per year thereafter. To give astronauts a place to live and work on the Moon, the agency’s Artemis Base Camp concept includes a modern lunar cabin, a rover and even a mobile home. Early missions will include short surface stays, but as the base camp evolves, the goal is to allow crew to stay at the lunar surface for up to two months at a time.“On each new trip, astronauts are going to have an increasing level of comfort with the capabilities to explore and study more of the Moon than ever before,” said Kathy Lueders, associate administrator for human spaceflight at NASA Headquarters in Washington.“With more demand for access to the Moon, we are developing the technologies to achieve an unprecedented human and robotic presence 240,000 miles from home. Our experience on the Moon this decade will prepare us for an even greater adventure in the universe – human exploration of Mars.”
There are certainly questions about feasibility.
Users pointed out that a single orbital flight of SpaceX’s Starship has yet to be completed, cautioning that foundational milestones must be achieved first. Comparisons with Europe’s technological ambitions, such as standardising charging cables globally, were also used to illustrate differing priorities.Despite these concerns, supporters of the recently-announced plan argue that establishing a moon base is essential for long-term US competitiveness in space and that feasibility is not a concern for the US admin. Isaacman and others stress that a clearly stated, ambitious goal is critical to avoid losing focus.The proposed moon base could provide the US with massive strategic and economic advantages, compared to other big leagues in space exploration, like China and Russia. Beyond research, the presence on the lunar surface may support industrial projects and orbital infrastructure, including satellite maintenance and potential resource extraction.Isaacman shared that these goals are part of Trump’s vision to position America as a leader in both scientific discovery and space commerce.
Hopefully, 2026 will get the U.S. back on course for an American moon landing.
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