Billionaire spacewalker is back before the Senate seeking NASA's top job

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Billionaire spacewalker is back before the Senate seeking NASA's top job

2025-12-04 02:14 Last Updated At：02:20

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Billionaire spacewalker Jared Isaacman urged senators on Wednesday to take swift action on his bid to lead NASA, after being yanked and then renominated by President Donald Trump.

Isaacman appeared before the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in Washington eight months after his first nomination hearing. The tech entrepreneur who's rocketed into orbit twice with SpaceX stressed the need for “full-time leadership” at NASA as the space agency prepares to send astronauts back to the moon early next year.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been filling in as NASA's acting administrator since summer.

Returning astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years will be “a challenging endeavor to say the least,” Isaacman told the committee led by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

NASA is targeting early next year for a lunar flyaround by four astronauts. They won't land on the moon; that would happen in another mission. The goal is to beat the Chinese there by the end of the decade.

“This is not the time for delay but a time for action 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,” Isaacman told the committee.

Cruz agreed. “NASA cannot take its eyes off the ball,” he said, referring to China's looming moon plans. “The United States must remain the unquestioned leader in space exploration."

Isaacman was within days of being confirmed by the Senate as NASA’s 15th administrator when Trump pulled his nomination in May. The move came soon after Trump's falling out with SpaceX's Elon Musk. The president renominated Isaacman last month.

Cruz said Isaacman's second appearance “feels a bit like Groundhog Day” and hopes to have him confirmed by the end of the year.

In response to questioning by senators, Issacman described both the moon and Mars as priorities for exploration by U.S. crews, with parallel efforts underway. He said he supports Duffy's recent move to reopen the contract for the lunar lander needed for the first touchdown by astronauts under NASA's Artemis program.

Elon Musk's SpaceX won the original crew lunar lander contract with Starship, but the mega rocket remains in flight testing. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is hustling to gain the lead with its Blue Moon landers; a prototype is due to launch early next year.

Isaacman assured the senators that NASA will go with the first company capable of delivering U.S. astronauts to the lunar surface. “The best thing for SpaceX is a Blue Origin right on their heels, and vice versa,” he said. He also supports competition among world powers — “just as long as we don't lose.”

The 42-year-old founder of the payment processing company Shift4 performed the world's first private spacewalk last fall. He bankrolled both of his spaceflights. Several astronauts were present for the hearing, including some of Isaacman’s own crewmates.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Shai Hope and Justin Greaves defy a depleted New Zealand team on the 4th day of the 1st test

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — A New Zealand team with a crowded medical ward met stiff resistance and was unable to finish off the West Indies on the fourth day of the first test Thursday after setting the tourists 531 to win.

Shai Hope led the resistance with his fourth test century in an unbroken partnership of 140 with Justin Greaves which began when New Zealand captured four wickets relatively quickly in the second session.

At stumps, Hope was 116 not out, Greaves was 55 not out and the West Indies were 212-4, trailing New Zealand by 319 runs.

New Zealand led by 530 runs when its second innings came to an end Thursday at 466-8. It was a moot point whether New Zealand declared or simply ran out of fit batters. Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell was unable to bat because of a hamstring injury and allrounder Nathan Smith was inactive with a side strain.

Matt Henry bowled 11 overs in the West Indies’ second innings before leaving to visit the hospital, handily adjacent to Hagley Oval for scans on painful calf muscle

With Henry and Smith out of action, Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes, with only two previous tests between them and in their first tests at home, were left as New Zealand’s only fit pacers.

To add injury to injury, Hope is still affected by a serious eye infection which has forced him to bat in sunglasses in both innings; to make a half century in the first innings and a century on Thursday. He was unable to field for most of New Zealand’s second innings and has needed antibiotic eye drops.

That made his effort throughout the fourth day all the more meritorious as the medical staff of both teams were kept busily employed.

“I don’t want to give away too much but it’s just about understanding what you have to do to overcome a situation,” Hope said. “They’ve got quality bowlers in test cricket, nobody’s a walkover in this format."

New Zealand had no choice from the second session but to tie up one end with the spinners Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra, then rotate Duffy and Foulkes at the other end with the nagging wind at their backs.

Bracewell bowled 22 overs, taking 1-54, Ravindra bowled nine overs, Duffy bowled 19 overs and took 2-65 and Foulkes bowled 13 overs.

New Zealand resumed Thursday on 417-4, already 481 ahead after leading by 64 on the first innings. The West Indies were bowled out for 167 in reply to New Zealand’s 231.

Ravindra made 171 and Tom Latham 145 as New Zealand took control of the match on the third day. Latham who has been captain, opening bat and wicketkeeper in this match after the injury to Blundell decided to bat on on the fourth morning with no particular goal in mind.

New Zealand did so in a desultory sort of way for 14 overs and lost Will Young (23), Bracewell (26), Henry (8) and Duffy (10) before the innings ended with Foulkes 11 not out.

Kemar Roach dismissed Young, Bracewell and Henry to finish with 5-78, his 12th five-wicket bag in tests. He is the oldest bowler at 37 to take five wickets in an innings against New Zealand and he now has 291 test wickets, placing him fifth on the West Indies all-time list.

After New Zealand’s innings ended, John Campbell (15) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (6) carried the West Indies through to lunch. Then Duffy removed both openers in a quick double strike after the break. Bracewell removed Alick Athanaze (5) and Henry dismissed Roston Chase (4) leaving the West Indies 72-4.

Hope and Greaves then batted through most of the last two sessions to see the West Indies to stumps without further loss and to set up an intriguing final day. Decisions on the fitness of Henry and Smith may be critical in determining the outcome.

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